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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 932872 – 10280   Polia purpurissata (Grote, 1864)              Purple Arches

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Adoxaceae[Caprifoliaceae] Betulaceae Caprifoliaceae Ericaceae Lamiaceae Myricaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae Sapindaceae.  Host genera: Acer Alnus Betula Comptonia Fragaria Glechoma Lonicera Nepeta Populus Prunus Purshia Rhododendron Salix Spiraea Symphoricarpos Vaccinium Viburnum.  Notes: polyphagous on shrubs (Poole 1989); variety of broad-leaved trees & shrubs ()Powell & Opler 2009); generalist on many kinds of hardwood (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: purpurissata (Grote, 1864) (Eurois) - MONA 1983: 10280 ssp. a. purpurissata (Grote, 1864) (Eurois)  crydina (Dyar, 1904) (Mamestra)  juncimacula (Smith, 1883) (Hadena)  languida (Smith, 1893) (Mamestra) ssp. b. apurpura Barnes & McDunnough, 1913 (Polia)

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. 55.26m; p. 303. 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 Mass Moths Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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