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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 932673 – 9816   Zotheca tranquilla Grote, 1874              Elder Moth

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© Marius V. Aurelian Large Map & Chart Report Errors About Maps

Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Adoxaceae[Caprifoliaceae].  Host genera: Sambucus.  Notes: specialist on Sambucus (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: tranquilla Grote, 1874 (Zotheca) - MONA 1983: 9816 sambuci (Strecker, 1874) (Cosmia) viridula Grote, 1878 (Zotheca)

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. 54.28m; p. 299. 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 Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

© John Davis © John Davis © Jason Dombroskie © Libby & Rick Avis - DNA

LG – © Jim Troubridge LG – © Jim Troubridge - 36mm – © Jim Vargo - 34mm – © Jim Vargo - 35 – © Tom Dimock - 35 – © Tom Dimock

© Jane & John Balaban LG on Elderberry - Sambucus © Jane & John Balaban LG on Elderberry - Sambucus

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