North American Lepidoptera Biodiversity LLC
GT Vision
Insect Photo Gallery: Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Noctuinae
Southeastern United States Euagrotis (Lepidoptera: Noctuinae)
Hugo L. Kons Jr.
Version 2016.1 (last update July 2016)
Images were taken by Hugo L. Kons Jr. with the GT Vision imaging system at the former American Entomological Institute.
In my view there are eight Euagrotis species in the southeastern United States, including E. simplicia, E. sullivani, and three species each that go under the names lubricans and illapsa. Exemplars of all eight species are shown below.
Anterior abdominal sternites
of Euagrotis sullivani and
three species that go under the name lubricans.
Euagrotis sullivani
*Abdominal brushes
absent (present in the following three species), pockets smaller than the
following three species.
*Similar to lubricans species 1 and 2 in pattern. Postmedial and
medial lines usually prominent, 3887 is an atypical specimen where they are
more diffused, although still clearly visible.
*Occurs in upland and
wetland habitats, savanna and woodland habitats.
*Distribution: Gulf
Coast: FL panhandle-E TX, also Atlantic Coastal Plain at least to NC per MONA
fascicle (Lafontaine 2004). I have not
found it in peninsular Florida.
Euagrotis lubricans complex
species 1
*Abdominal brushes
present, two KOH cleared specimens (just one of them sequenced) have distinctly
smaller pockets relative to lubricans sp
2 & 3.
*Fresh specimens with
sequences have contrasting white subterminal line,
but these upper scales are quicky lost in worn
specimens. Otherwise similar to species
2 in pattern.
*Postmedial
and medial lines distinct.
*Generalist occurring
in multiple habitat types, upland and wetlands.
*Probably widespread in
southeast U.S. (based on wing pattern), but rarely collected in my experience.
Euagrotis lubricans complex
species 2
*Abdominal brushes
present, pockets large and similar to lubricans
sp. 3, but easily separated by wing pattern.
*No sequenced specimens
have a white contrasting subterminal line.
*Postmedial
and medial lines distinct in fresh specimens.
*All sequenced
specimens are from pitcher plant bogs or close proximity to these habitats.
*Kons-Borth
sequenced and/or dissected specimens are from the FL panhandle-southern Alabama.
Euagrotis lubricans complex
species 3
*Abdominal brush
present, pockets large with prominent concave gouge on outer posterior sides.
*Differs in wing
pattern from the other two species by a smoother and less mottled forewing with
an indistinct postmedial line.
*Apparently restricted
to turkey oak/longleaf pine sandhill habitats.
*Distribution:
Peninsular Florida, panhandle, southern Alabama (dissected and/or sequenced
specimens), but apparently absent from east TX.
Euagrotis illapsa
One worn specimen of the true illapsa (not shown) was collected by Kons and
Borth at an intensively surveyed site in Jackson
County (Buena Vista Road) in May 2007, and probably represents a stray from the
north. Most Florida records of “illapsa” in
my opinion are one of the following two peninsular Florida endemic species
which differ in wing pattern, habitat association, and distribution. I have not studied the internal structures or
genetics of this complex.
Euagrotis near illsapsa species 1
This species is apparently a peninsular Florida
endemic restricted to xeric upland habitats.
My specimens are from longleaf pine/turkey oak sandhill
savannas.
Euagrotis near illapsa species 2
I have taken one specimen (below) of this peninsular
Florida endemic phenotype in north Florida in coastal Dixie County in a mix of
salt marsh and maritime woodland. Others
I have examined are from southern peninsular Florida, including a series of
specimens from the Big Cypress Preserve.
Euagrotis simplicia
This species is easily recognized by the dark horizontal
medial bar, touching the antemedial line on the basal
side. I have seldom found this species,
usually as single captures, and it does not appear to be associated with a
particular type of specialized habitat.
