(Figs. 73–74, Map 40)

Identification: Forewing length 11–13 mm. Frons white with two black spots just below antenna and touching eyes but are not contiguous across frons. Patagium is mostly grayish green with a thin distal black border. Forewing ground color is grayish green. Basal line a short curved, white line from costa to Cu vein bordered by black spots with another short curved white line from Cu vein to anal vein bordered by irregular black scale patches. Antemedial line is white and slightly sinuate. Orbicular spot is round, grayish greed and bordered by black scales. Reniform spot has a grayish green center outlined with a white border. Postmedial line is crennulate and white. Median area between antemedial line and postmedial line is black and extends ventrally to approximately midway between Cu and anal veins. Subterminal line is sinuate, white and irregularly bordered with a various amount of black scales being more numerous at costa and above tornus. Fringe is white with black spots giving it a checked appearance. Hindwing is mostly white bordered by a narrow margin of gray scales. The amount of gray scales is variable and some specimens can have a mostly gray hindwing.

Lacinipolia laudabils resembles L. implicata but can be separated by the median black area extending further past the reniform spot and never extending to the posterior margin of the forewing in L. laudabilis, whereas in L. implicata the black median area only borders the reniform spot distally and extends to the posterior margin of the forewing. The hindwing is much whiter in L. laudabilis than the more gray hindwing in L. implicata.

Flight period: Mid-May in Park.

Collected localities: Tennessee: Cocke Co., Foothills Parkway, 1.3 mi N of 321. (1 specimen)

MAP 40. Collecting localities of Lacinipolia laudabilis.

Elevation range: 1800ft. (549 m)

General distribution: This is a southern species with single specimens from Maine and Ohio in the USNM collection. Distributed from Maryland south to Florida and west to eastern Texas from the Dallas-Fort Worth area south to Brownsville.

Larval hosts: Little is known about the specific host host plants of this species. Dyar (1903) stated they are a general feeder and Crumb (1956) listed mustard (Brassica sp., Brassicaceae) and low plants in a yard and also stated they are probably general feeders on herbs. Larvae obtained from eggs were reared on common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg., Asteraceae) (Godfrey 1972).