Bagisara repanda

(Fabricius, 1793)

Wavy-lined Mallow Moth, Wavy Lined Mallow Moth

Bagisara repanda, commonly known as the Wavy-lined Mallow , is a small with a broad Neotropical and Nearctic distribution. are active year-round in tropical regions, with peak activity in late summer to fall in the southern United States. The was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793 and remains relatively understudied despite its wide geographic range.

Bagisara repanda by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.Wavy Lined Mallow Moth - Bagisara repanda (50283463181) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bagisara repanda: /bəˈɡɪsərə rɪˈpændə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

length 10–12 mm. Distinguished from by wavy transverse on the forewings. The specific epithet "repanda" refers to the wavy or undulating pattern. Similar to other Bagisara but pattern details and geographic distribution help separate them.

Images

Habitat

Associated with open, disturbed areas where plants occur. Larval tied to presence of Sida and other Malvaceae.

Distribution

Southern United States (South Carolina to Florida, west to Texas), south through Central America (Guatemala, Panama), the Antilles, and South America (Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil to Argentina). Also recorded from Galápagos Islands.

Seasonality

In Louisiana, most abundant late August to November. Year-round in tropics and possibly in Florida.

Diet

feed on Sida and possibly other Malvaceae. feeding habits not documented.

Host Associations

  • Sida - larval Primary known in Malvaceae
  • Malvaceae - larval Broader association, specific beyond Sida not confirmed

Human Relevance

Occasional pest potential on cultivated Malvaceae, though not documented as economically significant. Attracted to blacklights, making it accessible for citizen science observation and programs.

Similar Taxa

  • Bagisara buxeaSame , similar size and general appearance; distinguished by pattern details and less frequent occurrence at light traps
  • Other Noctuidae in subfamily BagisarinaeShared characteristics; requires examination of or detailed pattern analysis for definitive identification

Tags

Sources and further reading