Noctuidae - Acontiinae

 

 

 

Ponometia libedis (Smith), NEW COMBINATION

Acontia libedis Smith, 1900, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 27:80.

Diagnosis: The forewing of Ponometia libedis has an elongate and pointed forewing appearance. The overall coloration is a yellowish white with a slightly green tinge in the slightly dark portions of the forewing. In particular the antemedial is a vague, slightly darker yellow-green line slanting outward from the inner margin, then slanting inward to the costa at about the position of the orbicular. The lower half of the postmedial line is a fine, narrow dark brown line with a wider, but more diffuse gray-brown band distal to it. The upper portions of the postmedial and subterminal lines are green-yellow, but vague. There is a jagged, wide band of yellow-green in the subterminal area. There is a series of black spots along the outer margin of the wing. The fringe is brownish, but with a light yellow spot about midway down the outer margin. The hindwing is white with a slight infusion of gray-brown along the outer margin. Wing length from base to apex in one selected individual 9 mm.

Distribution: (Based only on specimens in the USNM). Ponometia libedis is a common species. It occurs throughout most of Texas except for the eastern parts of the state. Its range extends westward into Arizona, and northweard into Colorado.

Identification Quality: Good

Larva: The larva has been described by Crumb, 1956, U.S. Dept. Agric. Tech. Bull. 1135:51

Foodplants: Iva ambrosiifolia (Asteraceae) (Crumb, 1956).

Distribution map based on specimens in the USNM

 

Ponometia libedis

Ponometia libedis might be confused with P. sutrix. However Ponometia sutrix is a brown species without the yellow-green cast of libedis. The hindwing of sutrix is heavily suffused with brown, not mostly white as in libedis.

Similar Species

Ponometia sutrix