Cloudy Endothenia

Appearance

Size and colour patterns of this species show wide variation over different geographic locations. Recorded specimens from Alberta show an enlarged dark patch in the middle of the forewing, which is often triangular in shape. Heinrich (1926) also uses this dark patch as a distinguishing characteristic. Forewing color of recorded specimens ranges from a light creamy brown to a very dark brown sometimes appearing almost black. Superficially resembles E. quadrimaculana but has a smaller forewing length and a fewer number of apical spines on the uncus.

Naming

Endothenia nubilana (Clemens, 1865)
Sideria ? nubilana Clemens, 1865
Sideria nubilana
Endothenia antiquana nubilana (2)
Endothenia quadrimaculana (Haworth, 1811)

Specific epithet from Latin nubilus meaning "cloudy."

Distribution

US: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin
Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan

Status

Common, widespread

Food

Larvae are known to feed on the roots and stem bases of plants in the genus Stachys, especially hedge nettle (Stachys palustris). European records indicate that the larva will also feed on Mentha and Symphytum roots and lower parts of the stem.