Pink-barred sallow

Appearance

Adult: thorax and forewing bright yellow; collar, line fragments, and postmedial shading purple, mixed with reddish-brown; ST line dotted, black; hindwing white, tinted with pale yellow.

Naming

This North American species was previously thought to be conspecific with the Eurasian X. togata, but was shown to be a distinct and new species (X. tatago) by Lafontaine and Mikkola in 2003. The new name tatago is an anagram of the Eurasian specific epithet, togata. This seems to be a theme in this group: the genera Xanthia and Anathix are anagrams also.

Distribution

Northern United States and most of Canada (Newfoundland to Connecticut, west to Oregon, north to British Columbia and Northwest Territories).

Status

The only species in this genus in North America; locally common.

Food

Early-stage larvae feed on catkins of willow (Salix spp.); older larvae feed on the leaves.