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Bilobed Looper Moth

Megalographa biloba

Description:

This species was formerly Autographa biloba, but placed in its own genus by Lafontaine and Poole in 1991. It is the only species in this genus in North America. Since this spotting has near exact markings but a wide difference in color and no info about it's color ranges, I hesitantly place it with the Megalographa biloba. The adult forewing length is 15-18 mm marked with a very large stigma , bilobed, silvery-white with silvery scales in the lower half of the reniform spot and AM line.

Habitat:

Their range is southern Canada through United States to Central and South America. The adults will fly from March/April to October/November but probably all year in far south, a very widespread species. In the northern parts of its range it is a migrant only, (does not overwinter there). The larvae feed on alfalfa, barley, cabbage, cranesbill, dandelion, gladiolus, hedge-nettle, kidney-bean, larkspur, lettuce, plantain, sage, tobacco, vervain.

Notes:

Porch light visitor.

1 Species ID Suggestions

Bilobed Looper
Megalographa biloba


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4 Comments

nexttogone
nexttogone 11 years ago

Thanks for noticing, Argy Bee ") I've had a lot of help too.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

Wow you've been doing well with the moths. Many ID'd too :)

nexttogone
nexttogone 11 years ago

Thank you for the ID, J. The markings are extremely identical. I do see some slight variances in pose, outlines and the tuft on it's back. Also the color in this one came out very true in the picture to what I saw with my own eyes. But since, "This species was formerly Autographa biloba, but placed in its own genus by Lafontaine and Poole in 1991" and the specimens pictured on the bug guide page vary slightly in color. I think that this is the only call that can be made at this time. Unless you have any other ideas or even comments to help me understand more. And still, Thank you ").

nexttogone
Spotted by
nexttogone

Bandera, Texas, USA

Spotted on Nov 5, 2012
Submitted on Nov 6, 2012

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