Heliothis phloxiphaga (Grote & Robinson, 1867)
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Heliothentinae
Identification: A medium-sized light yellow-brown or tan moth with darker markings. There is a broad darker brown median band crossing the forewing, which angles sharply inward at the lower end of the large blackish reniform, and a dark triangular patch near the apex. The hindwing is dirty white or very pale buff with a large dark thick discal crescent and a broad black terminal band with a pale, split spot at the anal angle. The very similar H. acesias has a yellowish (not buff) hindwing, less contrast on the forewing, and the forewing median band is not as sharply angled. There are also genitalic differences (see Hardwick, 1994). H. ononis is significantly smaller, less yellow and lacks most of the fine spotting on the forewing found in phloxiphagus. H. oregonica is smaller and darker.
Wing Span: 3.3-3.7cm
Life History: Adults are reported to be both nocturnal and diurnal in activity, and while most often are taken at lights, may be found feeding and ovipositing during the day. Like other species of the genus, the larvae feed on the flowering parts and seeds of the host.
Flight: May through September
Caterpillar Hosts:
Adult Food:
Habitat: Wooded edges, meadows, and other open areas
Range: Across the US and S. Canada
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments:
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 40 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2020
Submitted by: Brynne Bryan
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 26, 2021
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 28, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 10, 2021
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Sep 07, 2016
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2019
Submitted by: Anita Draper
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Dec 27, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2020
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: Julie Lyke
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Apr 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 24, 2019
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 26, 2019
Observation date: Sep 18, 2018
Submitted by: Quivira NWR
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 16, 2018
Submitted by: I Fox
Region: Reno County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 24, 2018
Submitted by: Judeen
Region: Ada County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 31, 2018
Observation date: Aug 14, 2018
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 16, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2017
Submitted by: satchmo0802
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 13, 2017
Observation date: Jul 22, 2017
Submitted by: sseagrave
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2016
Observation date: May 03, 2015
Submitted by: N_Santill
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 10, 2016
Observation date: Sep 30, 2011
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 13, 2015
Observation date: Oct 16, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 13, 2015
Observation date: Jul 16, 1999
Submitted by: AndrewPigniolo
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Nov 03, 2015
Observation date: Apr 19, 2015
Submitted by: Samuel Grijalva
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Apr 20, 2015
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