Sympistis forbesi

Sympistis forbesi
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Sympistis
Species:	S. forbesi
Binomial name
Sympistis forbesi Zacharczenko & Wagner, 2014[1]

Sympistis forbesi is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It has been recorded from Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota and is believed to be extirpated from the eastern portion of the range in New York and New Jersey.

The length of the forewings is 14.5–16 mm for males and 14–16.5 mm for females. The ground colour of the forewings is warm grey.The hindwings are Pearly white with a thin terminal. Adults are on wing in late summer in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on Triosteum species, including Triosteum perfoliatum and possibly Triosteum aurantiacum. They are green with a reddish dorsum.

Etymology

The species is named in honour of William T. Forbes.^[2]

Gallery

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  Second (upper) and third (lower) instars

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  Middle instar larva

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  Last instar larva

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  Three larvae secreted in a leaf axil

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  Larvae on new spring leaves

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  Last instar larva on a flower of Triosteum perfoliatum

References

1. mothphotographersgroup
2. A new cryptic Sympistis from eastern North America revealed by novel larval phenotype and host plant association (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Oncocnemidinae)