leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Sept 19, 2017 5:04:06 GMT -8
I collected this UFO Catocala moth in a Bait Trap along the Big Sugar Creek in Gallatin County, Kentucky 28 June 2017. I thought I knew what it was, but I am not sure. I actually collected four specimens over a 5 day period. This was the second specimen. I think it is Catocala sordida.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2017 5:58:50 GMT -8
I think so too.
|
|
|
|
Post by rayrard on Sept 19, 2017 8:56:38 GMT -8
I thought gracilis had the black shading all across the rear margin?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 12:10:52 GMT -8
The difference between the two is tough indeed.
Yes, C. gracilis..form lemmeri does have a black band along the FW bottom edge. This band tends to be darker, straighter, and stronger than the band shown. The C. gracilis also tends to have more of a basal dash than sordida. Lastly, the black lines coming off of the FW main costa tend to be weaker with gracilis.
C. sordida....form metalomus has stronger black lines off of the main costa and the band at the bottom of FW edge tends to be more shadowy, gradual, and not as straight....it curves more upward toward the outer area. Lastly, but hardly consistent is the inner HW black band is usually more complete with sordida than gracilis, but some gracilis do have a well formed inner line.
Note.....both species have forms that do not have this blackened area at the base of the FW. I love this group, but they often a pain to ID. This is my take on the pic and yes, I did have to resort to references to confirm my thinking......lots of pics and sources. If others have opinions on this one way or the other, please share.
|
|
|
|
Post by rayrard on Sept 20, 2017 14:01:51 GMT -8
I will have to post my sordida and gracilis to get second opinions then. I am not sure what gracilis looks like now.
|
|
