Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
described in 1873 by Packard, who originally placed it in genus Calaclysta, a misspelling of Cataclysta
Identification
Adult: fine black wavy lines on hindwing are diagnostic
Range
southern Vancouver Island to San Diego, California
Season
adults fly from May to October in California
Food
larvae have been collected from damaged and decaying seedpods of two lupine species:
Silver Lupine (
Lupinus albifrons) and
Broadleaf Lupine (
L. latifolius); larvae are presumed to feed on detritus within the decomposed seedpods (see Wagner document in References sections below)
Life Cycle
overwinters as a larva in seedpod of hostplant
See Also
On Dicymolomia opuntialis (below), the outer half of the FW is more uniformly grizzled gray with little internal pattern or just a small black spot; on metalliferalis, this area is more mottled orange, white, and black. There is a fairly conspicuous median white line across the FW on metalliferalis, absent on opuntialis, and the subterminal white crescent on the FW of opuntialis only extends about 1/2 along the outer margin, whereas this same white subterminal line on metalliferalis covers about 7/8 of the outer margin. These features are more easily seen in lateral views than in top views of the moth.
(Left, opuntialis; Right, metalliferalis)
Other
Dicymolomia and related species lack fine black wavy lines on hindwing (
see photos of several species by Jim Vargo at MPG)
Print References
Wagner, David. 1985. Biology and description of the larva of Dicymolomia metalliferalis: a case-bearing Glaphyriine (Pyralidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 39(1):13-18.
[available online in PDF format
here]
Internet References
pinned adult image by Tom Dimock (Moth Photographers Group)
detailed illustrated description of larva; PDF doc and species account including photo of adult (David Wagner, courtesy of Yale U.)
presence in California; list of 17 specimen records with dates and locations (U. of California at Berkeley)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 12 July, 2008 - 8:28pm
Additional contributions by
Chuck SextonLast updated 4 August, 2019 - 7:53am