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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 932442 – 9452   Macronoctua onusta Grote, 1874              Iris Borer

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Poaceae Iridaceae Liliaceae.  Host genera: Belamcanda Gladiolus Iris Lilium Zea.  Notes: specialist that bores into the rhizomes of Iris sp. (Crabo et al 2014); larvae initially leafminers, later in flower buds, stalks & rhizomes (Eiseman 2020).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: onusta Grote, 1874 (Macronoctua) - MONA 1983: 9452

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. 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 Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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