Identification key to the Notodontidae occurring in the Dakotas

The two North Dakota species of Symmerista can be separated using color differences as follows:

3a.  (3)   Forewing with 'tooth' just distad of reniform about as long as wide.  Subterminal black markings
        taking the form of oblique slightly sinuous lines.   Symmerista canicosta Franclemont

3a.'  Fw with 'tooth' just distad of reniform wider than long.  Subterminal black markings taking the form of
        'swept-back' crescents.  Symmerista leucitys Franclemont

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In eastern North America there are three species of Symmerista, these are separated by the morphology of the eighth sternite of males as follows:

3a.  Eighth sternite (blue arrow) deeply emarginate, the emargination wider than deep (pink cross),
        with well differentiated mesal lobes (green arrows) constricting the emargination and with weakly
        produced rounded lateral lobes.  Symmerista canicosta Franclemont.

3a.' Eighth sternite deeply emarginate, the emargination much deeper than wide and not constricted
        by mesal lobes. Lateral lobes with a produced sharp tooth.  Symmerista leucitys Franclemont

3a."  Eighth sternite deeply emarginate, the emarginatiion about as wide as deep, not constricted by
        mesal lobes, lateral lobes not produced.  Symmerista albifrons (J. E. Smith)

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Last updated: 04/14/09

Good web citizens cite their sources. 

This resource is to be cited as: Fauske, G. M.  [date of cited page]. cited page
 in Moths of North Dakota: an online identification guide. 
< http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/ndmoths/ >

Dr. Gerald M. Fauske
collection manager, NDSIRC
research specialist, NDSU
216 Hultz Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
E-Mail: Gerald.Fauske@ndsu.edu

 
Published by the Department of Entomology 

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