Meropleon ambifusca – Newman’s Brocade

Family Noctuidae   Hodges # 9428

Caterpillar foods:  probably borers in sedge or rush (Bugguide); possibly Big Bluestem

This moth is on the rare, threatened or endangered list in many states in its range, but seems to be fairly common in Wisconsin.

M. ambifusca is very similar to M. diversicolor.  The main difference is the curve in the a.m. line.  Less arched and not reaching farther than half way to the p.m. line from the base in ambifusca; more arched, reaching much closer to the p.m. line in diversicolor.  (Thanks to Hugh McGuinness and Jerry Fauske for help with differentiating these two.)

There are several discussions of the differences between these two species on the Facebook group Moths of the Eastern United States and Canada.  One good way to distinguish them is the hindwings.  Hindwings of M. ambifusca are dark; M. diversicolor‘s are light.  Also, it seems from the examples on Bugguide and MPG that the wide band of lighter color on the forewings is lighter and more uniform on diversicolor, and more varied on ambifusca.

9/10/2019

 

9/1/2019

 

9/1/2019

 

9/1/2019

 

9/1/2019

 

9/1/2012

 

8/26/2011

 

8/25/2011

 

9/7/2015

Meropleon ambifuscum 9-7-15 1

on Bugguide