The occurrence of Bagisara brouana Ferguson in southeast Louisiana

by Vernon Antoine Brou Jr., 74320 Jack Loyd Road, Abita Springs, Louisiana, 70420 email: [email protected]

The noctuid moth Bagisara brouana Ferguson (Fig.1) appears to have a limited distribution, still currently known from only St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes in Louisiana, despite its known existence for about 25 years (Fig.2). Ferguson (1997) described two new species of Bagisara, including brouana , in a genus now containing 19 described new world species. At that time, brouana was known only from southeast Louisiana and southeast coastal Mississippi (Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties), and it appears its known restricted distribution remains the same. The coloration of brouana appears dark-brown overall with three narrow somewhat parallel transverse bands on the forewings. The species is sexually dichromatic with respect to the wing coloration. The male are distinctly lighter in brown coloration than the females, especially so on the hindwings. I suspect brouana utilizes (The Pineland Hibiscus) Hibiscus aculeatus Walt. as it's food plant, which is common at the Abita Springs site. This is a large white mallow perennial to three feet in height, found abundantly especially along roadsides, ditches, and disturbed sites. There appear to be three or four annual broods of brouana (Fig.3).

a b

Fig. 2. Parishes in which Bagisara Fig. 1. Bagisara brouana a. male, b. female. brouana have been collected.

20 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

10 number of adults

0 Fig. 3. Bagisara brouana captured at sec.24T6SR12E, 4.2 mi.NE Abita Springs, Louisiana. n = 656 Literature cited Ferguson, Douglas C. 1997. Review of the new world Bagisarinae with description of two new species from the southern United States (Noctuidae). Jour. Lepid. Soc. 51:344-357. Published: Brou, Vernon A. 2003. The occurrence Bagisara of brouana Ferguson in southeast Louisiana. South. Lepid. News 25: 8.