Admetovis similaris

Barnes, 1904

cutworm moth, dart moth

Admetovis similaris is a of or dart in the , first described by William Barnes in 1904. The species is found in North America. It belongs to the Admetovis, which contains three species characterized by distinctive flame-shaped marks. Little is known about its specific biology, though of related species are believed to be climbing cutworms that feed on woody shrubs.

Admetovis similaris by (c) Jeremy deWaard. University of British Columbia., some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Admetovis (10.3897-zookeys.788.26480) Figures 13–15 by Crabo LG, Schmidt BC (2018) A revision of Admetovis Grote, with the description of a new species from western North America (Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Hadenini). In: Schmidt BC, Lafontaine JD (Eds) Contributions to the systematics of New World macro-moths VII. ZooKeys 788: 167-181. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.788.26480. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Admetovis (10.3897-zookeys.788.26480) Figures 7–12 by Crabo LG, Schmidt BC (2018) A revision of Admetovis Grote, with the description of a new species from western North America (Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Hadenini). In: Schmidt BC, Lafontaine JD (Eds) Contributions to the systematics of New World macro-moths VII. ZooKeys 788: 167-181. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.788.26480. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Admetovis similaris: /ædˈmiːtəvɪs sɪˈmɪlərɪs/

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Identification

Admetovis similaris can be distinguished from congeneric by examining the flame-shaped mark on the . Compared to Admetovis icarus, the mark is lighter in coloration. The are less mottled than those of A. icarus. Separation from Admetovis oxymorus requires careful comparison of wing pattern elements. Definitive identification may require reference to original description and due to historical misidentification issues within the .

Images

Distribution

North America. Specific records include the western United States and Canada, though precise range boundaries remain incompletely documented. The has been historically confused with related , complicating distribution mapping.

Similar Taxa

Admetovis icarusShares the characteristic flame-shaped mark, but A. icarus has a darker mark and more mottled , and occurs at higher elevations (above 2,800 m). A. similaris has been misidentified as this in past collections.
Admetovis oxymorusCongeneric with similar overall appearance; are believed to be climbing feeding on woody shrubs. Historical misidentifications between these species have occurred.

More Details

Taxonomic History

The Admetovis was revised in 2018 by Crabo and Schmidt, who described A. icarus as new and clarified boundaries. Prior to this revision, specimens of A. similaris had been misidentified as A. oxymorus. The name 'similaris' likely refers to the species' resemblance to other members of the genus or related .

Research Needs

The larval biology of A. similaris remains unknown. Based on related , are suspected to be climbing feeding on woody shrubs, but this requires confirmation through field observation and rearing studies.