Noctuidae - Agaristinae

 

Male

Female

 

 

Neotuerta hemicycla (Hampson) 1904

Tuerta hemicycla Hampson, 1904, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., series 7, 14:166.

Diagnosis: Neotuerta hemicycla has a strong sexual dimorphism. The female forewing is white with an overlay of gray-brown scales, particularly in the forewing following the postmedial line. The basal area is white with a few gray scales in its lower half and the antemedial line is curved and arcs strongly outward from the costa to the inner margin. The claviform spot is absent. The median area is white, although strongly shaded with gray-brown along the costa. The postmedial line curves very strongly inward below the reniform spot. Consequently the lower half of the median area is strongly constricted to a thin rectangular region, arcing outward and filled with gray-brown. The orbicular spot is dark and round and contrasts with the white background. The reniform mark is large and dark gray-brown, and is thick and slightly v-shaped, and contrasts with the white background. As already noted the postmedial line is a dark brown line parallel to the outer margin until bending at a ninety degree angle below the reniform mark to midway between the reniform and orbicular marks and then curving outward again to the inner margin. This peculiar postmedial line is probably a confluence of the postmedial and median lines with the true lower half of the postmedial line absent. The outer third of the wing is generally suffused with gray-brown except for a small, white costal wedge just following the postmedial line. A couple of diffuse blackish triangles radiate in from the outer margin. The male forewing has the same maculation as the female, but the gray-brown is replaced by a rich red-brown coloration. The ventral surface of the female forewing is white and the postmedial line is straight from costa to the inner margin. The orbicular and reniform marks are large and contrast with the white ground color. The outer third of the wing has broad, black bands on all the veins. The female hindwing is yellow with a black band around the outer margin. A small discal dot is present. The male hindwing is completely suffused with red-brown.

Distribution (See Map Below): Neotuerta hemicycla is known from Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. The sexual dirmophism of the species has already been discussed. Adults have been collected in May and July.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

 

Neotuerta hemicycla

Similar Species

No Similar Species