Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cahela ponderosella (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918)
Olyca ponderosella Barnes & McDunnough, 1918
Numbers
Cahela ponderosella is the only member of the genus America north of Mexico.
(1) Size
wingspan about 38 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
Identification
Adult: forewing slender, brownish-gray with black longitudinal lines along veins; thickest line runs along cubital (main) vein from AM area to outer margin; another line below that runs from base to anal angle (partly obscured by diffuse blackish shadeline running alongside it); a third much shorter line runs from PM line to outer margin near costa; wing ground color in upper half (near costa) is more grayish, shading to brownish in lower half (near inner margin); hindwing white, much wider than forewing, with white fringe
Range
California
(2), and Utah
(3) to Colorado and New Mexico; Mexico,
Habitat
dry scrubland with cactus
Season
The main flight period is March to October.
Remarks
Type specimen collected in Riverside County, California.
See Also
Eremberga Moth (
Eremberga leuconips) forewing lacks black line from base to anal angle, lacks diffuse blackish shading in that same area, and has distinct black dash along inner margin near base - lacking in Cahela Moth
Print References
Mann, J., 1969. Cactus-Feeding Insects and Mites.
Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 256:
52.
(4)
Neunzig, H.H., 1997.
The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 15.4. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation: p. 70; pl. 3.35-36.
(5)
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009.
Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, plate 13, fig. 26; p. 196.
(6)Internet References
larval foodplant; PDF doc and distribution (Robert Pemberton and Hugo Cordo, paper on
Cactoblastis cactorum, Florida Center for Library Automation)
presence in California; list of 6 specimen records with dates and locations (U. of California at Berkeley)
presence in Arizona; list (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
presence in Utah; list (Joel Johnson, Utah Lepidopterists Society)
author, date, and original genus (Butterflies and Moths of the World)