Cucullia dammersi (McDunnough)

Lathosea dammersi McDunnough, 1935, Canad. Ent., 67:135.

Diagnosis: Cucullia dammersi is morphologically very similar to pulla but superficially very distinct. The valve of dammersi tends to be slightly narrower and more elongate than in pulla, although the difference is obscured by the variability within each species. Cucullia dammersi is far less robust and hairy than pulla. The forewing is dark gray with rusty brown shades in the subterminal area, not black as in pulla. The forewing costa is lighter than the rest of the wing. The hindwing is sexually dimorphic; dirty white with conspicuous veins in the males and dark brown in the females. Wing length from base to apex: mean = 19.87 mm., standard deviation = 0.62 mm., n = 10.

Distribution: This species is known only from the Mohave Desert region of southern California and is sympatric with pulla there.

The adults fly early in the year, December and January. Pupation takes place by late March.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: The early stages have been described and figured by Comstock and Dammers (1935). The larva is described as blue-gray with a complicated pattern of black patches. There is a dorsal yellow line, interrupted into approximately two yellow patches per abdominal segment and also a yellow band below the spiracles. A complicated mixture of black patches surrounded by the blue-gray background exists between the dorsal and subspiracular bands. Each proleg is green with a central black spot. The head is blue-gray with numerous irregular black patches. All in all the overall superficial impression is a pattern very much like that found in the convexipennis and speyeri groups.

Foodplants: The recorded foodplants are Ericameria linearifolia, Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Ericameria palmeri, E. pinafolia and Gutierrezia sarothrae, all shrubby composites (Asteraceae) of the Mohave Desert.

Similar Species

Cucullia pulla