Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands
Mesogona olivata [Noctuidae]
Wingspan 4.1 cm. Forewing may be a varying mix of yellow, gray, or red-brown with large strongly outlined discal spots; hindwing is gray. This noctuid is widely distributed in western North America, particularly common in dry forests in the Pacific West. Moths fly in fall. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of flowering trees and shrubs such as snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), oak (Quercus), and currant (Ribes).
Similar species: Mesogona subcuprea forewing is yellow to pale gray, hindwing copper-red, occurs in the Pacific West, caterpillars feed on the foliage of oak (Quercus); Homoglaea carbonaria (Noctuidae) forewing is gray to red-brown and lacks strongly outlined discal spots, caterpillars feed on the foliage of willow (Salix); Homoglaea dives forewing is dark brown to black and lacks strongly outlined discal spots, caterpillars feed on the foliage of willow (Salix).
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