Ponometia erastrioides (Guenée), Guenee

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Zootaxa 2499, pp. 1-20 : 5

2. Ponometia erastrioides (Guenée) , Small Bird-dropping Moth

( Figs. 5–6 , Map 3)

Identification: Forewing length 8.0-9.0 mm. Ponometia erastrioides has a cream colored forewing with a large black patch in the distal half that does not extend to apex. The orbicular spot is a tiny black dot. The round, gray reniform spot is present, but obscured by the black distal patch. The black distal patch and slightly smaller size distinguishes it from P. candefacta .

Flight period: Three distinct dates in the Park, early June, mid July, and mid September, probably representing multiple broods.

MAP 3. Collecting localities of Ponometia erastrioides .

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co.: Purchase Knob. Tennessee: Blount Co.: W Foothills Parkway at E end; Cades Cove Ranger Station; Cocke Co.: Foothills Parkway East; Foothills Parkway East, south overlook. (13 specimens)

Collected localities: 1001–4924 ft. (305–1501 m)

General distribution: Widespread throughout the east from Quebec, Canada and Maine, south to Florida, and west to Minnesota, Michigan, the Great Plains to Kansas, and southern Arizona. Larval host: Various species of ragweed ( Ambrosia spp., Asteraceae ) ( Crumb 1956).

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 16. Adults. 3, Ponometia candefacta, m, Oklahoma, Cimarron Co., Black Mesa State Park, east end of primitive area, nr. Lake Elling, 4281 ft., 36 o 50.783 ’ N, 102 o 52.583 ’ W, 24 Aug. 2004, M. G. Pogue; 4, Ponometia candefacta, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 12 July 1966, R. W. Hodges; 5, Ponometia erastrioides, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co.: Colesville, 29 Aug. 1978, D. C. Ferguson; 6, Ponometia erastrioides, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 25 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 7, Spragueia apicalis, m, Texas, Montgomery Co., Camp Strake 9 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 8, Spragueia apicalis, f, Texas, Tyler Co., Town Bluff (Dam B) 15 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 9, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Dorchester Co., Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, 7 Aug. 1999, J. Glaser; 10, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Spice Creek Marsh, 17 Aug. 2003, J. Glaser; 11, Spragueia leo, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co.: Oxon Hill, 11 July 1972, G. F. Hevel; 12, Spragueia leo, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 3 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 13, Amyna axis, m, Texas, Tarrant Co., Fort Worth, 14 Sep. 1962, E. Jackh Jr.; 14, Amyna axis, f, Texas, Cameron Co.: Brownsville, 27 Oct. 1970, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 15, Amyna axis, f, Texas, La Salle Co.: Artesia Wells, 11 Nov. 1971, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 16, Argillophora furcilla, m, Florida, Alachua Co.: Gainesville, hardwood hammock, 25 May 1972, E. C. Knudson.