Species Exyra semicrocea - Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024

9024

Exyra semicrocea (Guenée, 1852)

Xanthoptera semicrocea Guenée, 1852

* phylogenetic sequence #931189

wingspan 16-26 mm; average 24 mm

Adult - typical form has basal half of forewing bright yellow, distal half dark gray, divided by straight median line at right-angles to costa; some individuals have completely pale yellow forewing except for faint subterminal line; hindwing typically dark gray but may be almost white in pale forms; fringe color varies from black to almost white; top of head and collar black; top of thorax yellow.

Southeastern states: North Carolina to Florida, west to Mississippi.

Larvae feed on various pitcherplants (Sarracenia spp.), specifically Hooded Pitcherplant (S. minor), S. psittacina, S. sledgei, S. drummondii, S. rubra, and S. flava. When feeding on S. flava, it is usually replaced by Exyra ridingsii that may occur in the area.

See Riley, 1874 (208).

The Half Yellow (Tarachidia semiflava) has no black on top of the head or thorax.

Brou Jr., V.A., 2008. Exyra semicrocea (Guenee) in Louisiana. Southern Lepidopterists' News, 30: 19-20. (1)

Lafontaine, J.D. & R.W. Poole, 1991. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 25.1: p.76; pl.1.48-50. (2)

Riley, C.V., 1874. On the insects more particularly associated with Sarracenia variolaris. The Canadian Entomologist, 6(11): 207.

Moth Photographers Group (3)

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (4)