Lacinipolia quadrilineata

(Grote, 1873)

Four-lined Arches

Lacinipolia quadrilineata is a of owlet moth (Noctuidae) commonly known as the Four-lined Arches. First described by Grote in 1873 from the basionym Mamestra quadrilineata, this occurs across North America. The Lacinipolia belongs to the tribe Eriopygini within the Noctuinae. are attracted to lights at night and are active during the summer months.

Lacinipolia quadrilineata by (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC-BY license.

Lacinipolia quadrilineata-1 by Eugene Zelenko. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lacinipolia quadrilineata: /ˌlæsɪniˈpoʊliə ˌkwɒdrɪlaɪˈneɪtə/

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

Identification

The epithet "quadrilineata" (four-lined) suggests the presence of four longitudinal lines on the forewings, a characteristic feature of this species. Within the Lacinipolia, species are often difficult to distinguish by external appearance alone; examination of genitalia is typically required for definitive identification. The Four-lined Arches can be separated from similar Lacinipolia species by the specific pattern and arrangement of its longitudinal wing lines.

Images

Habitat

Found in diverse terrestrial across its North American range. Larval and specific habitat preferences are not well documented in available sources.

Distribution

North America. Specific distribution records include presence in the United States and Canada, with 837 observations documented on iNaturalist.

Seasonality

are active during summer months. Based on National Week observations in Colorado, specimens have been recorded in late July.

Behavior

are and attracted to artificial light sources. This is typical for many Noctuidae and has been documented for this species during lighting surveys.

Similar Taxa

Other Lacinipolia species in this are notoriously difficult to distinguish visually; L. quadrilineata is separated by its four-lined wing pattern, but definitive identification requires examination of male genitalia.

More Details

Taxonomic History

Originally described as Mamestra quadrilineata by Grote in 1873, later transferred to the Lacinipolia. The is catalogued under Hodges number 10422 in the MONA ( of North America) system.

Research Significance

The Lacinipolia serves as an example of taxonomic challenges within Noctuidae, where superficially similar require detailed morphological examination for accurate identification. This has implications for biodiversity surveys and ecological studies relying on accurate species determination.