Lasionycta promulsa sub-group

The L. promulsa sub-group is comprised of five species from western North America characterized by brownish color and ventral hindwing pattern. All are gray brown, tan, or yellow brown. Th e ventral hindwing of most species has a smaller or thinner discal spot and less conspicuous marginal band than those of the L. leucocycla and L. phoca sub-groups. Th e species are similar in size to those in the L. phoca sub-group.

The male valve is relatively long and slender with a small to moderately sized cucullus. Th e corona is usually single, sometimes partially double at the apex. Th e digitus is oriented closer to the valve than in all other sub-groups except the L. subfuscula subgroup. Th e vesica usually has two adjacent subbasal cornuti, although the number of cornuti varies between zero and two, and the cornuti in the distal band are relatively short. Th e female genitalia are typical for the L. leucocycla species-group but have relatively large corpora bursae in most species (relatively small in L. macleani (McDunnough)) . Th e male antennae are strongly biserrate or bipectinate.

The CO1 sequences of all species except L. silacea, sp. n. are tightly clustered together with L. impingens (Walker) with only slight differences between species. Lasionycta impingens differs structurally from the L. promulsa species-group members and is placed in its own species-group below.