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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae
931356 – 9159   Tarache areli (Strecker, 1898)

© Ethan Kistler
Distribution: Caution: A single range map dot for a Canadian province may represent records without specific location data.
Colorado to Nevada, southward to border regions of Texas to California. Also British Columbia. Open pinyon-juniper-oak areas and ponderosa pine forest in canyons or forested plateaus. Elevations ~ 4,800-7,500 ft.
Seasonality
and Size:
July - August. Wingspan ~ 20-25 mm.
Larva and
Host Plants:
Unknown.
Description/
Field Marks:
  • Forewing buff toward body.
  • White spot in brown near wingtip.
  • Circular reniform with black pupil.
  • Inner margin of brown area irregular. Irregular dark patch associated with this margin with some bluish scales.
  • Similar Species:
    • The Acontia areli group consists of six species, five of which are found in our check list area. They are similar in appearance, but differ in genitalia. See individual species pages for tips on identification. Photographs below by Cliff Davis and Jocelyn Gill.

      9158 - areloides9159 - areli9159.1 - toddi9159.2 - geminocula9159.3 - albifusa

    • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
    Synonymy: Acontia areli Strecker, 1898
    [unknown] monstrosa Strand, 1916
    Taxonomic Notes: Tarache areli: Formerly placed in the genus Acontia.
    References
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
    • Ferris, C. & D. Lafontaine, 2009. Review of the Acontia areli group with descriptions of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Acontiinae). ZooKeys, 9: 27-46.
    • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 50.27m; p. 281. Book Review and ordering
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
    • Species Page at The Noctuidae of North America by Robert W. Poole (Nearctica.com)
    Tarache areli
    © Robert Pearson
    Tarache areli
    © Marcin Roguski
    Tarache areli
    © William Geoghegan
    Tarache areli
    © CNC - Jocelyn Gill
    Tarache areli
    © CNC - Jocelyn Gill
    Tarache areli
    24mm – © Jim Vargo

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

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