Lithophane pexata (Plush-naped Pinion)

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=9922

comments (10)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

With unknown do you mean "No ID found yet" or "not described at all"? Posted 6 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  Unknown to me. Changes to title made. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Sorry, didn't mean to imply you needed to correct it, was curious whether we should try and help ID it. If undescribed, it would be in vain :) Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      No problem there, Ferdy. I do hope someone can figure this one out. I've been working on it for weeks and can't come up with anything. I will probably send it over to Bug Guide but it could be a long time before it gets any attention. Finding an undescribed species would be pretty cool but I don't think that is going to happen for me. Meanwhile, I came across another stumper this morning which I posted a little while ago. Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        I'm not sure if you're at the genus level yet, if not, I propose to look into Lithophane sp. Same overall build, wings shape, banded legs, and most importantly: it has the two large explicit marks on the side of the wings as seen on your photo.
        
        But maybe you already were at the genus level :) Posted 6 years ago
      2. Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        Ha! I was just going to change it to "Lithophane maybe". One possible species is Lithophane pexata based on photos at MPG.
        
        http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=9922 Posted 6 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        What about Lithophane baileyi? The brown dot in the reniform spot is a characteristic that species has. Posted 6 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        The photos online show a lot of variability, but here is a similar-ish one:
        https://bugguide.net/node/view/1515994/bgimage
        
        But, I just realized that L. pexata has that same characteristic and has a thicker white shoulder stripe, as the moth in your photo does as well. So, I think you're onto something with L. pexata... Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
        
        Gary B
        
        Lion
        
        Could be as both L. pexata and L. baileyi occur in MN. But L. baileyi seems to be much lighter overall with large white areas on the wings. I've only found a couple of photos at BG where the moth was dark and called L. baileyi. Posted 6 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        True, most of the L. baileyi I found online were lighter. But, my guide shows a darker one. Isn't it fascinating that these two species have such similar markings?! I guess that can be said for lots of moths though. L. pexata seems a better fit, in my opinion though. Posted 6 years ago

The Plush-naped Pinion

''Lithophane pexata'', the plush-naped pinion, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

The MONA or Hodges number for ''Lithophane pexata'' is 9922.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Gary B