Psammopolia arietis
(Grote, 1879)
Psammopolia arietis is a noctuid restricted to Pacific Coast sand beaches from Mendocino, California to south-western Alaska. fly from late July to early September. The larvae inhabit sand dunes and feed on specific coastal plants including beach pea, seashore knotweed, and yellow sand-verbena. The is absent from the inland Strait of Georgia, indicating a strict dependence on outer coastal .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Psammopolia arietis: /ˌpsæm.oʊˈpoʊ.li.ə ˈæriː.ɛtɪs/
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Identification
Likely distinguished from other Psammopolia by its coastal sand beach and geographic range. Specific diagnostic features for separation from such as Psammopolia insolens are not documented in available sources.
Habitat
Pacific Coast sand beaches and sand dunes. Absent from inland coastal waters such as the Strait of Georgia.
Distribution
Pacific Coast of North America from Mendocino, California north to south-western Alaska.
Seasonality
on wing from late July to early September.
Diet
Larvae feed on Lathyrus littoralis (beach pea), Polygonum paronychia (seashore knotweed), Abronia latifolia (yellow sand-verbena), and an unspecified grass .
Host Associations
- Lathyrus littoralis - larval food plantbeach pea
- Polygonum paronychia - larval food plantseashore knotweed
- Abronia latifolia - larval food plantyellow sand-verbena
- Poaceae - larval food plantunspecified grass
Life Cycle
Larval stage occurs in sand dunes. period spans approximately six weeks in late summer.
Ecological Role
Herbivore in coastal sand dune . Larval feeding on nitrogen-fixing beach pea may influence dune plant dynamics.
Similar Taxa
- Psammopolia insolensCongeneric with overlapping coastal distribution; separation requires detailed morphological examination.
More Details
Habitat specificity
The ' absence from the inland Strait of Georgia, despite suitable sandy substrates, suggests ecological factors beyond substrate alone—possibly salinity exposure, wave action, or plant composition—limit its distribution.