Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Wingspan 2.7 cm. Forewing is pale yellow to red-brown with fine markings. This noctuid is abundant in the Pacific West and widely distributed in the Pacific Northwest. Moths fly in late summer. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of alder (Alnus).
Similar species: This moth represents a large complex of some 15 species in the noctuid genera Anhimella, Homorthodes, Protorthodes, and Pseudorthodes which are characterized by small size and yellow, gray or red color; Protorthodes curtica forewing red with a black reniform spot, common in ponderosa pine forests; Pseudorthodes irrorata forewing is red with a small white reniform spot, common in wet coastal forests.