Grotella dis

Grote, 1883

Grotella dis is a of owlet moth in the Noctuidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. It is one of approximately 20 species in the Grotella, which is to North America. The species is characterized by distinctive white coloration with black markings on the forewing . It is found in arid and semi-arid regions from Kansas southward into northern Mexico.

Grotella dis6 by David L. Wikle, Research Collection of David Wikle. Used under a Copyrighted free use license.

Grotella dis4 by David L. Wikle, Research Collection of David Wikle. Used under a Copyrighted free use license.

Grotella dis3 by David L. Wikle, Research Collection of David Wikle. Used under a Copyrighted free use license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Grotella dis: /ɡroʊˈtɛlə dɪs/

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

Identification

Distinguished from other Grotella by the combination of pure white forewings with black restricted to the costal edge at the base, and the white hindwings with fuscous suffusion. Grotella septempunctata, which occurs in overlapping range in Colorado, has seven dark spots on the forewing. Other white Grotella species may lack the distinct black costal marking or show different wing pattern elements.

Images

Appearance

and white. ochreous. Pectus, legs, and tinged with brown. Forewing pure white with black costal edge towards base. Hindwing white suffused with fuscous, with pure white cilia. Underside of forewing suffused with fuscous; hindwing white with curved postmedial line, costal and terminal areas suffused with fuscous.

Habitat

Arid and semi-arid regions including grasslands and scrublands. Associated with rocky and open in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Distribution

North America, from the Argus Mountains in Kansas south to northern Mexico. Records indicate presence in Kansas and southward through the southwestern United States into Mexico.

Behavior

, attracted to artificial light sources. Activity patterns typical of noctuid , with flying at night.

Similar Taxa

Grotella septempunctataOverlapping distribution in southwestern United States; distinguished by seven dark spots on forewing versus black costal edge only in G. dis
Other Grotella species members share overall white coloration but differ in specific wing pattern elements such as spot arrangement, costal markings, and hindwing suffusion patterns

More Details

Taxonomic history

Described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883, a prominent 19th-century American entomologist who described numerous North American .

Genus endemism

The Grotella is to North America, with primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico.