Species Feltia inyoca - Hodges#10670.1

10670.1

Feltia inyoca Lafontaine, 2004

"This species and Feltia evanidalis are disjunct Californian relatives of jaculifera. Feltia inyoca is characterized by 1) the shape of the claviform spot, which is longer (4x as long as basal width) than that of evanidalis but shorter than in jaculifera , 2) the smoother looking forewing, probably because of the lack of pale streaking in the subterminal area, 3) the broader male antennae, and 4) the scarcity of females (only two females are known compared with almost 100 males. The male antenna is about 3 X as wide as the central shaft, about 6 X as wide including the setae (in jaculifera the male antenna is about 2 X as wide as the central shaft, 4 X including the setae); evanidalis is more similar to inyoca in this character, but the antennal serrations are slightly shorter in inyoca and the setae slightly longer. Females of inyoca are very rare; they are narrower winged than are males and probably do not fly as readily as males. Females of evanidalis are also rarely seen, unlike those of jaulifera. The male genitalia are most similar to those of jaculifera; the clasper is 0.37-0.39 X as long as the valve in inyoca (0.34-0.39 X in jaculifera, 0.40-0.43 X in evanidalis)."

Lafontaine further states: "Feltia inyoca is positively known only from Inyo county, California, where adults have been collected between late August and mid-October. A single male in LACM labeled "Palm Springs" but without collector or date requires further confirmation." [the unclosed parenthesis above, preceding "only two females" is as printed in the description]. (1)

Feltia evanidalis has a shorter claviform spot (2-3x as long as basal width)

Feltia jaculifera has a longer claviform spot (6-8x as long as basal width)

Lafontaine, J.D., 2004. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 27.1. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation. p. 217; pl. J.28-29. (1)

Moth Photographers Group (2)

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