Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands
Lithophane dilatocula [Noctuidae]
Wingspan 4.7 cm. Forewing is dark gray to black-gray with greatly enlarged, round discal spots, the oribicular spot white or pale gray, the reniform spot orange; hindwing is red-gray. This noctuid is common and occurs in wet coastal forests in the Pacific West and in riparian forests east of the Cascade Mountains. Moths fly in fall and into spring. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of alder (Alnus).
Similar species: Lithophane thaxteri forewing with black basal and median dashes and a jagged black submarginal line, occurs in high elevation conifer forests, caterpillars feed on the foliage of hardwoods; Lithophane atara forewing is dark gray, hindwing pink, widely distributed, caterpillars feed on the foliage of species of Pinaceae.
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