Panthea gigantea (French, 1890)
93-1395
WA : Okanogan Co.
Black Cyn., 2037 ft
48.1, -120.0
June 16, 1988, L. G. Crabo.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
-
/media/moths_z/Panthea gigantea-A-D -
/media/moths_z/Panthea gigantea-A-V
Similar Species
Panthea virginarius "species-data"
species-data
Data Filters
Date Range
Elevation (ft)
Identification
Adults
Panthea gigantea is a large (FW length 22 - 32 mm; largest and most broad-winged in females), powdery charcoal gray noctuid that is found in ponderosa pine forest during the summer. The forewing has black transverse lines, and its ground color is nearly even hoary dark gray with a mixture of light and dark scales. The antemedial, median, and postmedian lines are single, black. The antemedial line is nearly straight across the wing. The median line is slightly zig-zagged, and the postmedial line is more sinuous and is followed by a light whitish line. The jagged irregular postmedial line is whitish, preceded by a black shade. The fringe is checkered with medium gray and black. The reniform spot is an ill-defined black smudge. The orbicular and claviform spots are absent. The hindwing is slightly translucent whitish gray in males with darker discal spot, patchy postmedial line, patchy submarginal band, dark gray terminal line, and checkered white and gray fringe; that of the female is light gray with darker gray ill-defined lines. The head and thorax are hoary dark gray. The abdomen is nearly black. The male antenna is bipectinate.
This species is only likely to be confused with dark forms of Panthea virginarius, a widespread species in our region, and Panthea acronyctoides nigra, which has a restricted range in British Columbia north of the range of P. gigantea. The antemedial line of P. gigantea is straight, while that of both of the other species is irregular.
Habitat
This species is widely distributed throughout western North America in open, dry ponderosa pine forests. However, it is usually uncommon or rare, and sporadic in distribution. In the Pacific Northwest, it is found in mixed hardwood-conifer forests of southwestern Oregon at low elevations, and in most ponderosa pine forests east of the Cascades at middle elevations.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
Panthea gigantea is found in ponderosa pine forests throughout the Pacific Northwest as far north as southwestern British Columbia near Lillooet.
Global
This species is widespread in western North America. It occurs from British Columbia, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and western Nebraska south to coastal California, the state of Durango, Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle (Anweiler 2009).
Life History
Larvae
This species is a foodplant specialist feeding primarily on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the Pinaceae.
Adults
Adults have a single brood and fly during the spring and summer. They have been collected from April to September in our region, with most records from early May to early July. They are nocturnal and come to lights.
Economic Importance
None.
Literature
Anweiler (2009)
Miller & Hammond (2007)
