Noctuidae - Acontiinae

 

 

 

Tarache lagunae Mustelin and Leuschner

Acontia lagunae Mustelin and Leuschner, 2000, Proc. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., 36:2, figs. 1 adult, male and female genitalia.

Diagnosis: The forewing of Tarache lagunae is primarily dark brown, although the basal area (particularly along the inner margin) is mottled with pearly gray. A white rectangular band descends from the costa and encloses the small, black orbicular with the reniform pressed up against the far side. The forewing also has a small, white streak from the costa near the subterminal line. The lower two-thirds of the subterminal line is white and irregular. The hindwing is yellow-orange with the discal dot very small to absent. The undersides of both the forewing and the hindwing are both suffused with yellow-orange. The female is similar to the male.  Forewing expanse from base apex in one selected individual 10 mm.

Distribution: (Based only on material in the USNM) Tarache lagunae is limited to southern California, particularly in San Diego County.

Adults have been collected between February and May.

Identification Quality: Good

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

Distribution map based on specimens in the USNM

Tarache lagunae

Tarache lagunae is most likely to be confused with Tarache flavipennis. The two species are most easily separated by geographical area. Tarache lagunae is known only from southern California, particularly San Diego County. In Contrast flavipennis occurs in central and northern California, extending northward into Oregon. The discal dot of the hindwing is small to absent in lagunae, but usually distinct in flavipennis. The white patch on the costa of the forewing enclosing the orbicular tends to be (but is not always) larger and broader in flavipennis than in lagunae. The vesica of the male genitalia contains 6 large spines in lagunae, but only 5 in flavipennis.

Similar Species

Tarache flavipennis