Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands

Cosmia calami [Noctuidae]

Wingspan 3.2 cm. Forewing is pale yellow to light brown with small discal spots, basal line strongly transverse and nearly touching the postmedian line along the inner margin; hindwing is white. This noctuid is common in oak woodlands in the Pacific West. Moths fly in midsummer. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of oak (Quercus).

Similar species: four species in the noctuid genus Ipimorpha (Noctuidae) have a completely straight basal line and two species in the noctuid genus Enargia (Noctuidae) have a v-shaped basal line. These species occur in the Rocky Mountain region, caterpillars feed on willow (Salix) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides).

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