Leucocnemis nivalis
Scientific NameLeucocnemis nivalis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)31
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorswhite, cream, pale grey
HabitatDry, sandy areas, grasslands, open woodlands
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to California and east to Montana and Wyoming
Host Plantsgrasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodAugust to October
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis: eggs are laid, larvae (caterpillars) feed on various grasses, pupation likely occurs in the soil, and adults emerge in late summer to fall.
Identification TipsKey features include its uniformly pale, chalky white or cream forewings with minimal markings, and its occurrence in dry, open habitats in western North America during late summer and fall.
Description
A small, uniformly pale moth, typically white to cream or pale gray, with a powdery appearance and very faint or absent wing markings.
