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Noctuidae - Agaristinae
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Male
Female
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Euscirrhopterus poeyi Grote
Diagnosis: Euscirrhopterus poeyi is a strikingly sexually dimorphic species. The male is smaller than the female and is characterized by large areas of hyaline membrane lacking scales. The forewing scales are very loosely attached. The amount of bare wing membrane depends in part on how long it has been since the moth eclosed from the pupa. The remaining scales are rusty brown. The orbicular is a small, dark spot, and the reniform, although larger, is a small round, brown spot. Most of the scaling is restricted to the inner margin of the wing. Along the inner margin the antemedial and postmedial lines are two light bands. Brown scales are also often seen at the apex of the wing and narrowly along the outer margin. The male hindwing and a hyaline center with a diffuse band of rusty-brown scales along the outer margin. The female is larger without the hyaline membranous areas. The general color is a dark gray-brown. However there is a large white area along the costal third of the wing with its lower margin consisting of a smooth curve from the base of the wing to near the apical margin. The reniform is well developed and kidney-shaped. The orbicular is a small, gray spot. The hindwing is yellow with a wide dark bray-brown outer margin. Both males and female have a round ring for a frontal process. Distribution (See Map Below): Euscirrhopterus poeyi has a wide distribution in the American tropics extending from Mexico southward through Central America into Venezuela and Brazil. It also occurs widely in the Carribean and enters the United States in extreme southern Florida. Identification Quality: Excellent Larva: Unknown Foodplants: Pisonia aculeata [Nyctaginaceae]
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Euscirrhopterus poeyi
The male of Euscirrhopterus poeyi is distinctive with its wide, hyaline patches of wing membrane and is unlikely to be confused with any other North American noctuid. The female generally resembles the male and females of both Euscirrhopterus gloveri and cosyra. However the evenly curved lower margin of the large white area of the forewing easily separates this species from both of these species. |
Similar Species
Euscirrhopterus gloveri
Euscirrhopterus cosyra |
