Pygarctia flavidorsalis
Barnes & McDunnough, 1913
Pygarctia flavidorsalis is a tiger moth in the Erebidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. It is characterized by white wings and contrasting with orange , , and . The is known from the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pygarctia flavidorsalis: /pɪˈɡɑːrktiə flævɪˌdɔːrˈsælɪs/
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Identification
Distinguished from other Pygarctia by the combination of white wings and with orange , , and . The specific epithet 'flavidorsalis' refers to the yellowish-orange ('flavid') surface. Similar species may share color patterns but differ in geographic range or precise color distribution.
Images
Appearance
Wings and white. , , and orange. Wingspan approximately 30 mm in males, 32 mm in females.
Distribution
Southwestern United States: Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma. Records suggest a restricted regional distribution centered on the desert and semi-arid regions of the American Southwest.
Seasonality
active in May, July, and October. This pattern suggests at least two, possibly three, per year with activity spanning spring through autumn.
Similar Taxa
- Pygarctia roseicapitisCongeneric tiger moth sharing acoustic aposematism , but differs in having rose-colored (pinkish) rather than orange, and different geographic distribution.
More Details
Acoustic Aposematism
While acoustic aposematism has been documented in the congeneric Pygarctia roseicapitis, this has not been specifically confirmed for P. flavidorsalis. The Pygarctia is part of the tiger moth lineage known for sound production related to bat defense.