NatureServe Conservation Status

Rounded Global Status Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled

Reasons: About 7-8 known sites and a very limited total range. Assuming the known range is approximately the actual range, there are almost certainly well under 20 occurrences. It is possible some of the eight sites, especially some of the five in Washington, are not separate occurrences. Serious rangewide long term and more immediate threats exist, and there has been a known major loss of habitat. This species is obviously not secure and is listed as Endangered in Canada, about 40% of its range. Note the global rank is explicitly based on the acceptance of the conclusion by COSEWIC and others that the purported range is essentially correct and that the moth is not nearly as widespread as its foodplant.

Environmental Specificity: Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common.

Comments: Restricted to sandy dunes, spits etc where the foodplant Abronia latifolia is concentrated over a substantial area. Occurs in small satellite patches within 200 meters or so of larger populations, but not in isolated small or sparse or non-flowering populations of the plants.