glossy black idia moth

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Glossy black idia moth is a common, small to medium-sized, litter moth. It occurs throughout the United States, but it is rare in the northwest quarter of the country. It also occurs across southern Canada. It is common in Minnesota.

Glossy black idia larvae feed on lichens, fungi, rotting wood, and other decaying organic matter. When feeding on decaying organic matter, they are probably getting most of their nourishment from fungi. Adults are found from late June to September in deciduous woodlands and shrubby areas. They are active at night and will come to lights. They also come to sugar baits painted on tree trunks. During the day they congregate in large numbers in hollowed out trees and sometimes in basements.

Adults are 11⁄16″ to 13⁄16″ (18 to 21 mm) in length and have a 1″ to 1⅜″ (25 to 35 mm) wingspan. Some specimens are much smaller. Moths in the west are larger and paler, and they have more diffuse black markings. These size and color differences, and DNA barcoding, suggest that Idia lubricalis may be a complex of three or more species.

The sensory mouthparts (labial palps) are long and upwardly curved, sickle shaped, reaching to the top of the head. The third segment is very flat, bladelike. On the male, the antennae are heavily covered with hair-like projections (cilia) and are also heavily bristled. The bristles are longer than the antennal segment to which they are attached. On the female, the antennae are lightly bristled.

The forewings are broadly rounded on the outer margin. They are mostly dark blackish brown and glossy, with pale clay-colored markings. This is the feature that gives the moth its common name. They are crossed by three pale, sharply toothed lines. The antemedial (AM) line is shadowed below with black. The postmedial (PM) and subterminal (ST) lines are shadowed above with black. The area beyond the ST line is usually paler. The round spot in the upper median area (orbicular spot) is reduced to a small pale dot and is sometimes missing. The kidney-shaped spot (reniform spot) in the lower median area is pale and usually has a black, crescent-shaped mark in the middle. The black mark often nearly fills the reniform spot, leaving only a slender pale crescent on its upper edge.

The hindwings are much paler and are crossed with the same lines, but the lines are broader and more diffuse.

Total length: 11⁄16″ to 13⁄16″ (18 to 21 mm)

Wingspan: 1″ to 1⅜″ (25 to 35 mm)

Deciduous woodlands and shrubby areas

One generation per year: late June to September

Adults are active at night and will come to lights. During the

Caterpillars overwinter

Lichens, fungi, rotting wood, and other decaying organic matter

Flower nectar

Sources

4, 21, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82, 83.

Common

In 2011 the family Arctiidae (tiger moths and lichen moths) was transferred to the family Erebidae mostly intact but demoted to a subfamily. The former subfamilies are now tribes, the former tribes now subtribes.

Idia lubricalis glossy black idia moth

Idia lubricalis, glossy black idia moth, photographed on stones at the house adjacent to Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI on June 25, 2022. These litter moths seem to be active during the early evening.

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Idia lubricalis, glossy black idia moth, photographed on stones at the house adjacent to Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI on June 25, 2022. These litter moths seem to be active during the early evening.