Condica mobilis (Walker) 
Diagnosis: Condica mobilis is one
of the most abundant noctuids in the New World tropical and subtropical
regions. This species was incorrectly called "apameoides"
in the older literature, but the true apameoides is now known
to be a synonym of Condica sutor Guenée. Although
the species is moderately variable, it is generally characterized by a
forewing that is some shade of orange, red-orange, yellow-orange, or brown-orange.
The forewing is always suffused to some degree with brown, but the amount
of brown is very variable. In general the amount of brown suffusion is
greater in females than in males. The lower third of the reniform spot
is almost always accented with white, although in a few specimens, the
white dot can be quite small, and in a few cases the white is restricted
to just a few scales. Most of the maculation is obscure, more so in some
specimens than in others. The postmedial line is a band slightly lighter
than the surrounding ground color. The veins within the band are usually
accented with dark brown, the accenting being more pronounced on the average
in older and lighter specimens. The postmedial line is nearly straight,
but is slightly curved beneath the reniform spot. The inner margin of
the postmedial band is weakly scalloped. The subterminal line is marked
by a difference in color between the postmedial and subterminal areas,
lighter distally, darker proximally. The degree of differentiation is
variable between individuals. The claviform spot is generally absent,
although present as a vague small patch of dark scales in a few specimens.
Distribution: This species is distributed throughout
the tropical and subtropical regions of the New World, occuring as far
south as northern Argentina. In North America the species is common in
the southeastern United States and ranges as far west as Arizona. In the
east the species probably follows the pattern of many primarily tropical
and tropical species. I speculate that the species can breed and overwinter
in the extreme southern regions of the United States, but like many abundant
tropical species, disperses northward during the summer. In the east it
has been collected as far north as southern New Jersey. Further westward
in Texas the species has been collected in southern Texas, but not yet
northward from there.
Identification Quality: Excellent
The only species mobilis might be confused with in the United States are Perigea xanthioides and P. enixa. The reniform spot of the forewing in both xanthioides and enixa lacks the white dot of mobilis. Instead the reniform spot is a light yellow or yellow-orange oval patch with a small black dot in the lower half. On the whole both xanthioides and enixa are lighter in color and brighter appearing. The basal area of xanthioides is usually, but not always more distinctly yellower than the median area. In contrast there is no contrast in color between the median and basal areas.