Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands
Xestia oblata [Noctuidae]
Wingspan 3.8 cm. Forewing is pink-orange to purple with an orange-purple submarginal border, discal spots large and the discal cell black between the discal spots; hindwing is yellow. This noctuid is common and widely distributed in western North America, particularly common in the Rocky Mountain region. Moths fly in midsummer. Caterpillar host plants in the Pacific Northwest are unknown.
Similar species: Agnorisma bugrai (Noctuidae) forewing is purple-gray with thin, pale basal and postmedian lines, common in ponderosa pine forests east of the Cascade Mountains; Pseudohermonassa flavotincta (Noctuidae) forewing is pale yellow to brown, streaked with thin black lines and a yellow costal margin, a rare species endemic to wet coastal forests, caterpillars feed on grasses.
Previous Species -- Eurois astricta
Return to Listing of Noctuidae
Next Species -- Xestia mustelina
