Observation date: June 17, 2015
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Flushed at least 2-3 (photographed two) at least in a sub-alpine sage-steppe meadow. Elevation right at about 9500'. Warm day. In a place with Lustrous Coppers. In flight, appeared generally pale gray. Strong vermiculations on the UW, as in photo.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: June 18, 2015
Coordinator notes: Nice moth!
As to identifications, the Moth Photographers Group website is very helpful, as it has photographs of the large majority of North American moths. Another useful site is PNW moths, which although limited to the Pacific Northwest (and only covering most of the macro moth families), is very through in its treatment of those species it does cover (and since most of the moths in the Pacific Northwest are not endemic to that region, it can be quite helpful in making identifications, even in CA). I have the Powell and Opler book, but since it only covers about a quarter of the western North American species, I often don't feel confident identifying a moth with the book alone, since my moth might be one of the species not covered in the book (and it might be misleadingly similar to a species in the book, leading to an incorrect identification).
