Moth Photographers Group – Feralia jocosa

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae

931561 – 10005 Feralia jocosa (Guenée, 1852)

Joker Moth

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Larva and Host Plants:	Host familiy: Cupressaceae Pinaceae. Host genera: Abies Larix Picea Pinus Pseudotsuga Thuja Tsuga. Notes: specialist on Pinaceae (Crabo et al 2014); hollow out a few hemlock needles before feeding entirely externally (Eiseman 2020). (Shropshire & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:	Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	jocosa (Guenée, 1852) (Diphtera) - MONA 1983: 10005 furtiva Smith, 1909 (Feralia) jocosides Strand, 1916 (Feralia)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
Poole, R. W., 1995. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 26.1: p. 183; pl. 5.36-39. order or free PDF
Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
Species Page at BugGuide.Net
Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum
Species Page at Mass Moths
Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
Species Page at iNaturalist

31mm – © Jim Vargo

Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at the Mississippi State University

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