Arachnis citra Neumoegen & Dyar, 1893

93-0329

Identification

Adults

Arachnis citra is an attractive, large tiger moth (FW length 22–30 mm) that flies in eastern Idaho during the summer. It has striped white-to-cream and gray forewings and a spotted pink hindwing and abdomen. The forewing is fairly long.  The ground color in Pacific populations is white—cream elsewhere in its range—traversed by multiple wavy double lines, black filled with light gray, producing a moiré pattern. The lines are interrupted by several white veins. The hindwing is predominantly translucent dark pink, pale anteriorly, similar gray lines as on the forewing.  The white thorax is striped with black and gray similar to the forewings, while the abdomen is red with a pale tip and black and gray longitudinal stripes. The simple antennae are white. Females are larger than males and have broader and more continuous lines on the hindwing.

This species can be identified by its eastern Idaho distribution, large size, striped white and light gray forewings, and pink hindwings. It is unlikely to be confused with any other tiger moth in our area.  The Idaho populations of A. citra resemble Arachnis picta, a moth that flies south of the Great Basin.  According to Chris Schmidt (personal communication 2012) our populations are assigned correctly to A. citra, and differ from A. picta by the wider pale areas on the forewing and differences in the mitochondrial DNA.

Habitat

This species is widely distributed across the central Great Basin in low elevation habitats. It flies in open juniper forest in south-central Idaho.

Distribution

Pacific Northwest

Arachnis citra is only known from southeastern Idaho in the Pacific Northwest.

Global

This is a species of the intermountain west. Its range includes western Colorado, northern Arizona, and most of Utah and Nevada.

Life History

Larvae

No information is presently available regarding larval foodplants for this species, but it probably feeds on general herbaceous vegetation like the closely related A. picta, particularly legumes such as lupines (Lupinus spp.).

Adults

Adults occur in late summer to early fall. They are nocturnal and come to light.

Economic Importance

None.

Literature

BugGuide

Ferguson et al. (2000)

Moth Photographers Group

Powell & Opler (2009)