Noctuidae id please...

[pilonm]

Hello all,

Here are 3 pictures of a Noctuidae I took in Quebec (near Vermont) last April 8th, 2010.

Could it be Copivaleria grotei???

Thank you very much for your so appreciated help

Michel
Quebec, Canada

[leptraps]

The Noctuid moth figured in all three images are Melanchra adjuncta, MONA # 10292.

The specimen is some what worn with some green areas which indicates the moth is from a more northern part of its range.

[pilonm]

Hello Leptraps,

Thank you for your help

But the different forums where I asked for an indentification of those pictures told me that it is effectively Copivaleria grotei.

Is Melanchra adjuncta present in Quebec in April?

Cheers,

Michel

[leptraps]

Hello Michel;

I am currently at the Insect Museum at the University of Kentucky (I curate the collection two days a week). There are long series of each, Melanchra adjuncta (10292) and Copivaleria grotei (10021). There are several specimens of each from Maine, all of the C. grotie were collected in April.

Of the 70+ specimens of Melanchra adjuncta only 4 were collected in April and all of those from Kentucky are from June/July and one from April. The specimens from Maine were collected in early August.

I saw your post on Bug Guide. Is the photograph yours? That one is definitely C. grotei. The specimen in your three photographs is wing worn. It is more than likely C. grotei base on the specimens in the UK collection.

However, in my personal collection, I have Melanchra adjuncta from Eastern Kentucky, several locations in West Virginia and northeastern Ohio. They closely resemble your photographs. I also have Copivaleria grotei from the same locations, and they too match your specimen.

I wish the specimen was prepared and we could put a positive ID on it.

Copivaleria grotei is a early spring species and can be very common. Melanchra adjuncta has several broods and can be moderately common in mid summer. I have 12 specimens in my collection, several from May and August, only one from April, and late April at that, 27 April.

I change my identification and say it is Copivaleria grotei. This is based on location and flight time.

Do you only photograph insects? Did you collect the specimen in the photographs?