Melipotis jucunda

Melipotis jucunda, the merry melipotis moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in Mexico (Yucatán, Mérida), Colombia[2] and most of the United States and western Canada.[3]

Melipotis jucunda
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Melipotis
Species:
M. jucunda
Binomial name
Melipotis jucunda
Hubner, 1818[1]
Synonyms
  • Bolina hadeniformis Behr, 1870
  • Cirrhobolina tetrica Edwards, 1878
  • Melipotis versabilis Harvey, 1877

The wingspan is 35–42 mm. The ground colour of the forewings is medium grey, with fine longitudinal streaks and black dashes between the veins on the distal portion. The hindwings are pure white to pale grey with dark veins, a thin discal spot and a wide marginal band.[4] There are two or three generations in New Jersey and multiple generations in the southern part of the range.

The larvae feed on Salix bonplandia and Salix wrighti, Acacia species and Calliandra eriophylla.[5]

Subspecies
  • Melipotis jucunda jucunda
  • Melipotis jucunda hadeniformis (Behr, 1870) (California)

References
  1. Yu, Dicky Sick Ki. "Melipotis jucunda Hubner 1818". Home of Ichneumonoidea. Taxapad. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016.
  2. nkis.info
  3. mothphotographersgroup
  4. Pacific Northwest Moths
  5. Bug Guide


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