Noctuidae - Acontiinae

 

Male

Female

 

 

Tarache lucasi (Smith)

Acontia lucasi Smith, 1900, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 27:68.

Acontia aniluna Smith, 1905, J. New York Ent. Soc., 13:209.

Acontia pima Smith, 1905, J. New York Ent. Soc., 13:209.

Diagnosis: Tarache lucasi is sexually dimorphic. The male is primarily gray-brown. However there is a broad white stripe along the costa reaching from the base to the subterminal line. The oribicular and reniform are absent. A white patch exists in the terminal area and fringe near the inner angle of the forewing. This white patch contains an inner brown patch with two black dashes, part of the terminal lne. The head and most of the top of the thorax are white. The hindwing is white but with dull brown shading along the outer margin.  Forewing expanse from base to apex in one selected individual 10 mm.

The female has the basic maculation of the male. However broad, brown , diagonal stripes reach the costa in the position of the antemedial and postmedial lines. The overall coloration is slightly browner than that of the male. The hindwing is completely brown.

Distribution: (Based only on specimens in the USNM). Tarache lucasi is a primarily Mexican and Central American species reaching Nicaragua in the south, and northward into western Texas and southern Arizona.  Adults betweeen July-August.

Identification Quality: Good

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

Distribution map based on specimens in the USNM

Tarache lucasi

Tarache expolita might be confused with the male of Tarache lucasi. However the white spot in the terminal area near the inner angle in lucasi has a brown spot within it. Within this brown spot are two black dashes. In addition the top of the thorax of lucasi is white, not brown.

Similar Species

Tarache expolita