| Coll. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) |
| October 2011, November 2011, April 2012 |
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| Locality & GPS coords |
| Kingman, Mohave Co., AZ |
| Yuma Co., AZ |
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| Elevation (ft) |
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| Habitat |
| Mohave Desert |
| Lower Colorado Desert (Sonoran Desert) |
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| Host Plant |
Stephanomeria sp. (wirelettuce) |
| Collector(s) |
Jennifer Bundy |
Field notes & observations:
| Larvae |
My search for Cucullia cucullioides began 2011 and for the purpose of helping Jean-Claude Petit who is a Cucullia specialist working on larval life history. As well, per Dave Wagner (University of Conn.) who requested assistance with western Cucullia larvae and host plants. My initial findings (species I.D.) here in Yuma County, AZ remained unknown until I was able to successfully rear the species from larva to adult.
- (2011) I managed to find two similar species (C. cucullioides & C. eulepis) between Kingman, AZ and Yuma, AZ - with C. eulepis near identical to C. cucullioides in larval morphology and color.
- (2011) Forward larval image to Dave Wagner (University of Conn.) for possible species I.D. but wasn't able to determine anything further than Noctuidae. Species remained unknown until I began investigating Sympistis larvae for an answer.
- (2011-2012) Rearing Sympistis larvae would change my determination back to "Cucullia" based on larval behavior/morphology. Further investigation of Cuculllia flight distribution helped in pinpointing 1 of 6 Yuma Cucullia species possibilities. By spring, I had narrowed the species down to either C. cucullioides or C. eulepis. Collecting more larvae in the local Yuma desert early spring '12, I determined the species to have two flights.
- Forwarding more Yuma larval images and report to Dave Wagner (May 2012) contributed to later findings made by Wagner in eastern AZ, to include Cucullia eulepis.
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| Additional notes: |
Larvae found on host with Schinia scarlatina, from norther Az to southern AZ. Both species of larva look very similar. During spring 2012, I found larvae on host with Schinia, Kodiosoma and Plusiin. |
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Ecology Notes:
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The life history of Cucullia cucullioides is documented as "unknown." |
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| HABITAT |
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| Habitat: Yuma County, North (south of Quartsite, AZ) |
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| HOST |
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| Stephanomeria |
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| Voucher No. |
JLB2012 |
| Found as |
Penultimate and Ultimate instars |
| Food plant used |
Stephanomeria sp. (wirelettuce) |
| Voucher fate |
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| Number of days (1st-Ultimate instar) |
--- |
| Number of days (prepupa) |
--- |
| Number of days (pupa to eclosion) |
--- |
Morphology Notes:
| Ovum: |
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| Larvae: |
- larva very similar in color pattern to its owlet relative - Schinia scarlatina. Both share the host plant.
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| Pupa: |
pupa morph unique |
| Cocoon: |
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| Adult: |
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Behavior notes:
| Ovum: |
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| Larvae: |
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| Pupa: |
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| Cocoon: |
formed underground, but at a very shallow depth |
| Adult: |
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Parasitoids:
| Para. lep voucher: |
N/A |
| Para. species: |
none observed |
| Para. voucher #: |
N/A |
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| Penultimate Stage |
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| lateral |
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| Ultimate Stage |
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| sub lateral |
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| Cocoon |
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| Cocoon made underground at shallow depth |
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| Pupa |
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| Pre-eclosion pupa |
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| Adult |
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| Adult eclosion, Spring2012 |
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