Apamea lutosa
Andrews, 1877
opalescent apamea, Opalescent Apamea Moth
Apamea lutosa is a noctuid commonly known as the opalescent apamea. It is distributed across central and eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States. The is part of the taxonomically challenging Apamea, whose members are often difficult to distinguish visually. Larval feeding has been documented on quackgrass (Elytrigia repens).
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Apamea lutosa: /əˈpeɪ.mi.ə luːˈtoʊ.sə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Members of the Apamea are notoriously difficult to identify due to high individual variation and overlapping morphological features among . Specific diagnostic characters for A. lutosa distinguishing it from such as A. amputatrix are not clearly established in available sources. Identification may require examination of genitalia or other specialized characters.
Distribution
Canada: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta. United States: north-eastern states including New York and Indiana.
Diet
Larvae have been recorded feeding on Elytrigia repens (quackgrass).
Host Associations
- Elytrigia repens - larval food plantquackgrass
Similar Taxa
- Apamea amputatrixBoth are North American Apamea with overlapping ranges and similar cryptic forewing patterns; visual separation is difficult and may require dissection.