Tarache areli (Strecker, 1898)

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Acontiinae

Identification: Ground color creamy-white over basal half with four irregular pale gray-brown vertical striations, remainder of wing brown with scattered paler areas producing a very sight mottled aspect; prominent white trapezoidal costal patch before apex; orbicular spot an incomplete narrow brown ring with creamy white center; reniform a circular dark ring with internal iridescent blue scales and black pupil; a brown irregular patch below reniform spot with some blue scales extending to inner margin of wing; terminal line and irregular series of dark dashes; fringe scales basally brown, paler at tips, with brown patch below apex and at tornus. Dorsal hindwing (DHW): luminous white, nearly hyaline, with pale brown marginal band; fringe white. Female similar to male, but color generally darker, especially fringes, DHW light brown basally, shading to brown on outer margin

Wing Span: 1.0 - 1.25 cm

Life History:

Flight: July and August

Caterpillar Hosts:

Adult Food:

Habitat: open pinyon-juniper-oak areas and open ponderosa pine forest. Canyons and forested plateaus from 4800-7500 ft

Range: Western Texas stretching eastward through New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. Northward it occurs in the Rocky Mountain States as far as southern British Columbia

Conservation:

NCGR:

Management Needs:

Taxonomy Notes: None.

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