Euhagena nebraskae Edwards 1881

An inconspicuous and probably uncommon species, rarely observed or collected in Alberta.

Adults fly in late fall; there is a single Alberta record for 30 September 1986.

The arid parts of western North America, from Mexico City to southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, west to California. In Alberta Euhagena has been collected north to Drumheller.

"Unmistakable. A small (approximately 2.3-2.4 cm wingspan) narrow-winged wasp-like moth with fully scaled bright rusty orange wings broadly bordered with black. The veins are lightly lined with black scales, and there is a broad dark band crossing the outer forewing and a prominent dark discal mark on the hindwing. The head and thorax are clothed in long, dark silky hair, while the abdomen is covered in black scales and shorter hairs, with a narrow ring of white scales at the end of most segments. The dark fur-like vesture looks appropriate for an insect that appears so late in the season. "

Badlands and other arid areas.

The larvae are borers in the roots of the host. The adults are diurnal, and fly late in the season.

No Alberta data; elsewhere reported to bore in the roots of evening primrose (Oenothera)(Eichlin and Duckworth, 1988).