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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 931875 – 10135   Sympistis riparia (Morrison, 1875)              The Dune Noctuid

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Distribution: Dunes Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Rosaceae.  Host genera: Prunus.  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: 931881 Sympistis chons Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: riparia (Morrison, 1875) (Oncocnemis) - MONA 1983: 10135 ssp. a. riparia (Morrison, 1875) (Oncocnemis) ssp. b. manitoba (McDunnough, 1941) (Oncocnemis) ssp. c. subterminalis (McDunnough, 1941) (Oncocnemis) Taxonomic Notes: Sympistis riparia: Formerly placed in the genus Oncocnemis.

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Goldstein, P.Z. & M.W. Nelson, 2017. Two psammophilic noctuids newly associated with beach plum, Prunus maritima (Rosaceae): The Dune Noctuid (Sympistis riparia) and Coastal Heathland Cutworm (Abagrotis benjamini) in Northeastern North America (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). ZooKeys, 661: 61-89. Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at Block Island Moths Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist Troubridge, J.T., 2008. A generic realignment of the Oncocnemidini sensu Hodges (1983) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Oncocnemidinae), with descriptions of a new genus and 50 new species. Zootaxa, 1903: 1-95. (abstract) (abstract and access (fee))

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