Egira variabilis Smith 1891

A western moth, ranging from extreme southeastern AB west into the dry southern interior of BC, south to Arizona, New Mexico and southern California. In Alberta it has been collected in the Crowsnest Pass area at Burmis.

A medium-size (approx. 3 cm wingspan) variably mottled light and dark grey, black and red-brown moth. Body hairy, mottled black and white with a mostly white frons. Forewings usually medium grey. The large orbicular and reniform spots are frequently fused, and may be partly filled with brown scales. The area below the orbicular and outlining the reniform dark red-brown and black, extending outward along veins part way. Subterminal line visible as a line of white or light grey scales, expanding to a white or light red-brown streak above the anal angle. Fringe grey, lightly checkered at the veins with lighter scales. Hind wings dull white, liberally sprinkled with sooty brown scales. Veins lined with black scales, as well as a dark discal mark and a thin dark terminal line. Male antennae broadly bipectinate. Forewing markings are highly variable in color and shade, as implied by the name. The bipectinate antennae and brown-dusted hindwings will help separate it from similar species, as will the genitalia.

Poorly known. There is a single annual brood, which emerges in spring. The Alberta specimens we have seen were reared from larvae collected on Limber pine (Pinus flexilis).

Egira variabilis is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America.

The MONA or Hodges number for Egira variabilis is 10504.