Species Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022

5022

Pyrausta zonalis Barnes & McDunnough, 1918

forewing length = 5.5-8.0 mm (1)

See link to original description by Barnes & McDunnough in print references below.

An updated, detailed description is available in MONA Fascicle 13.2B at the link in citations below. Important points from this description include rather noticeably small moth, forewing with acute tip, PM line evenly curved and finely and evenly denticulate (not smooth with irregular curves and angles), no pale adterminal zone, dark line of fringe interrupted. (1)

drier parts of southern California from Apple Valley to Painted Gorge and east to the Ivanpah and Palo Verde mountains (1)

February to May (1)

Type locality: USA, California, Riverside Co., Palm Springs

Pyrausta roseivestalis is similar in size, shape and markings, but FW and terminal shading of HW are pink, not gray. It is known from the fall, whereas zonalis is a spring flier. There is a possibility that they are seasonal forms of the same species. (1)

Pyrausta napaealis is considerably larger at 7-10 mm forewing length and PM line is smoothly curved around cell or variously angulate near costa, not evenly denticulate as in zonalis. (1)

Barnes, W.B. & McDunnough, J.H. 1918 Contributions to the natural history of the Lepidoptera of North America 4: 164

Moth Photographers Group (MPG) (2)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (3)