Moth Photographers Group – Lithophane petulca

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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Noctuidae

932536 – 9889 Lithophane petulca Grote, 1874

Wanton Pinion

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Distribution Data for Lithophane petulca

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Larva and Host Plants:	Host familiy: Betulaceae Ericaceae Fagaceae Juglandaceae Malvaceae[Tiliaceae] Oleaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae Sapinda.. Host genera: Acer Alnus Betula Carya Fraxinus Populus Prunus Quercus Salix Tilia Ulmus Vaccinium. Host extended: specialist on Betulaceae in the Pacific Northwest (Crabo et al 2014)... (Kimberley & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:	Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	petulca Grote, 1874 (Lithophane) - MONA 1983: 9889 ferrealis Grote, 1874 (Lithophane) - MONA 1983: [9890]
Taxonomic Notes:	Lithophane petulca: Includes as a synonym Lithophane ferrealis [9890].

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.
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 Mass Moths
Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
Species Page at iNaturalist

AMNH – © Hugh McGuinness

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

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