Egira crucialis (Crucialis Woodling Moth)

Egira crucialis (Crucialis Woodling Moth)

This is a common, medium sized Noctuid which flies through the spring. It has elongated grey forewings, (FW length 16-20mm) with lengthwise dark dashes, and an angled, black medial line. The orbicular spot is large but open, and the reniform spot is faintly shaded red. It is most likely to be confused with Egira simplex, and some variations of each can be virtually indistinguishable. But E. simplex lacks the reddish flush at the reniform spot, and has a brownish hindwing with a black discal spot, whereas the hindwing of Egira crucialis is almost pure white, with faint gray markings. 

The larvae feed on a variety of deciduous trees including, but not limited to, oaks, willows, alders, dogwoods, cherries, buckthorns, and other members of those families. It is found throughout the western part of our region in deciduous and mixed woodlands, and easterly to the Idaho Panhandle and down to the Blue Mtns of ne Oregon.

Egira crucialis

http://pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/browse/family-noctuidae/subfamily-noctuinae/tribe-orthosiini/egira/egira-crucialis/

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=10508

https://bugguide.net/node/view/98450

Size- FW length 16-20mm

Habitat- Mesic deciduous and mixed woodlands. 

Range- In the Cascades and west, east to Idaho Panhandle, south to the Blue Mtns. Absent from southern half of Idaho, se Oregon, arid interior of Washington. 

Eats- Larval hosts include oaks, madrones, alder, cherries, dogwood, willows and many others

Flight Season- March through May

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Egira crucialis
Egira crucialis
Egira crucialis
Egira crucialis

1 thought on “Egira crucialis (Crucialis Woodling Moth)”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *