Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Discestra trifolii); Beadle and Leckie (2012) | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954), as Scotogramma trifolii | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011) | |
Adult Markings: This species looks very much like a number of medium sized brown noctuids, particularly Homorthodes. The yellowish zigzag subterminal line is a good character not found in similar species. |
Wingspan: 3 - 4 cm (Covell, 1984) |
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia from our one specimen are sufficiently different from those of other species likely to be confused with it. Note the considerable asymmetry. |
Structural photos |
Male reproductive structures |
Aedeagus |
Abdominal pelt |
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Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens. |
Immatures and Development: The caterpillar is extremely variable in both color and pattern (Wagner et al., 2011), possibly the the most variable Noctuid in our fauna. |
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood. |