spotted grass moth

(Rivula propinqualis)

spotted grass moth
Photo by Alfredo Colon
  Hodges #

8404

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Spotted grass moth is an easily recognized, very small owlet moth. It occurs in the United States east of the Great Plains and in the Northwest, and across southern Canada. It is common in Minnesota. Adults are to 7 16 (10 to 11 mm) in length and have a wingspan of to ¾ (15 to 19 mm).

The forewings are pale yellow or straw-colored. There are scattered dark scales over the entire wing surface and there is usually at least some brown shading at the rear margin. A dark brown, often large patch surrounds a small purple kidney-shaped (reniform) spot and extends to the outer (costal) margin. Three narrow, parallel, brown or pale brown lines cross the wings: a W-shaped line separating the basal and median areas (antemedial line); a line separating the median and subterminal areas (postmedial line) that curves sharply, almost forming a loop near the costal margin; and a line on the rear margin at the base of the fringe (terminal line). The hindwing is slightly lighter. It has a terminal line and just a trace of a postmedial line.

The antennae are slender and thread-like.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: to 7 16 (10 to 11 mm)

Wingspan: to ¾ (15 to 19 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Meadows, moist grassy areas, woodland edges

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

May to August

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults are active at night (nocturnal) and will come to lights. The wings are held flat when at rest.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Grasses

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75.

 
  9/14/2019      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Noctuoidea (owlet moths and allies)  
 

Family

Erebidae (underwing, tiger, tussock, and allied moths)  
 

Subfamily

Rivulinae  
 

Genus

Rivula  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

spotted grass moth

yellow snout-moth

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Costal margin

The leading edge of the forewing of insects.

 

Reniform spot

A kidney-shaped spot or outline in the lower median area near the PM line on the forewing of many moths.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    spotted grass moth      
           
 
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  Alfredo Colon
8/31/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

spotted grass moth  
           
 
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Created: 9/14/2019

Last Updated:

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