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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 931320 – 9096   Ponometia libedis (Smith, 1900)

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Description/ Field Marks: Forewing terminal area has gray spots bordered internally with a vague white st. line. The shading in the subterminal area is a variable but evenly-colored olive or brown without black speckling. There are almost always dark wedge-shaped gray spots on the costa on either side of the reniform spot and in darker forms these turn into olive or olive-brown bands on each side of the reniform spot. Typically the dark medial patch has a well-defined black line on the basal side followed by a chestnut line and then a gray mottled area. ~ D.L Similar Species: 931321 Ponometia nannodes: Forewing terminal area has brown spots bordered internally with a well-defined zigzagged white st. line. The shading in the subterminal area is mottled with gray and brown always (so far) with a lot of black speckling distal to the reniform spot. The dark wedge-shaped spots on the costa are more brown than gray and if they continue down the wing the color stays the same. Typically the dark medial patch has a more diffuse black line on the basal side followed by a mixture of chestnut, black, and gray speckling, often with a second transverse black line in the middle. ~ D.L. Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: libedis (Smith, 1900) (Acontia) - MONA 1983: 9096 Taxonomic Notes: Ponometia libedis: Formerly placed in the genus Tarachidia, ZooKeys, 39: 1-160.

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) Lafontaine, J.D. & R.W. Poole, 2010. Review of the New World genera of the subfamily Acontiinae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). ZooKeys, 39: 1-160. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 50.18m; p. 280. Book Review and ordering Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at The Noctuidae of North America by Robert W. Poole (Nearctica.com) - archived page access (go to a year prior to 2020 and select a blue circled date from the calendar). Species Page at iNaturalist

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