Coxina

Identification to species level requires examination of wing pattern details, particularly the configuration of transverse lines and spots on the forewings, and often dissection of genitalia. Coxina cinctipalpis, the most frequently encountered species in North America, is distinguished by dark wavy transverse lines on pale gray forewings. The genus can be separated from related Calpinae genera by a combination of wing venation and male genitalic structure.

Species occur in diverse habitats including tropical and subtropical forests, scrublands, and agricultural areas. Coxina cinctipalpis has been recorded in thorn scrub and riparian corridors in the southern United States and Mexico.

North America (southern United States), Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and South America (Argentina). Individual species have more restricted ranges: C. cinctipalpis in Mexico and the southern United States; C. cymograpta, C. guinocha, and C. turibia in Argentina; C. ensipalpis and C. hadenoides in Mexico and Central America; C. plumbeola in the Caribbean; and C. thermeola in Central America.

Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. Larval behavior is undocumented.

Coxina cinctipalpis is known as the black-waved owlet and occasionally appears in regional moth surveys and biodiversity studies in the southern United States. No species are considered agricultural pests.

• BuliaSimilar Calpinae genus with gray forewings and transverse lines; distinguished by more uniform wing coloration and different genitalia structure.
• CaenurginaAnother Calpinae genus with similar overall appearance; separated by forewing pattern details and geographic range (Caenurgina is primarily North American with different line configuration).

• moth
• Erebidae
• Calpinae
• nocturnal
• Neotropical

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life