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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 931930 – 10156   Sympistis heliophila (Paykull, 1793)

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Empetraceae Ericaceae.  Host genera: Empetrum Vaccinium.  Notes: specialist on Empetrum & Vaccinium (Crabo et al 2014).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: heliophila (Paykull, 1793) (Noctua) - MONA 1983: [NEW] bicycla (Packard, 1867) (Anarta) leucoptera (Esper, 1798) (Phalaena) melaleuca (Thunberg, 1791) (Noctua) preocc. - MONA 1983: [10156] moesta (Hübner, 1808) (Noctua) penthica (Stichel, 1911) (Anarta) Taxonomic Notes: Sympistis heliophila: Includes as a synonym Sympistis melaleuca [10156].

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. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 51.31f; p. 286. Book Review and ordering 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 BugGuide.Net Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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