Aseptis fumeola is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by British entomologist George Hampson in 1908.
Distribution and habitat
The species is found in the southwestern United States, including the state of Arizona, southern and central California, southern Nevada, and southeastern Utah. Its habitat consists of foothills and mountains in dry chaparral, parkland, and conifer forest.
Description
The wingspan ranges from 38.5 to 45 mm. The forewings are dark, slightly shiny gray-brown with contrasting dark patches, particularly in the basal and postmedial areas. The medial area is typically paler with reddish tan near the conspicuous large black reniform spot, a small round orbicular spot, and a short claviform spot. The reddish postreniform patch is relatively prominent for the species group. The postmedial line is usually well marked and curves around the reniform spot. The serrated subterminal line forms a prominent border between the postmedial and paler subterminal areas. The hindwing is smoky gray-brown, darker in females. Adults are on wing in June and July.
Larvae
The larvae are pale green. They have been found and reared on new leaves of Arctostaphylos species, including Arctostaphylos pungens (pointleaf manzanita).
Taxonomy
The species was originally described under the genus Trachea as Trachea fumeola by Hampson in 1908. It was later moved to the genus Aseptis. A synonym is Trachea probata (Barnes & McDunnough, 1910). It belongs to the Aseptis fumeola species group within the subfamily Noctuinae, tribe Xylenini.
