Species Rectiostoma xanthobasis - Yellow-vested Moth - Hodges#1026

1026

Rectiostoma xanthobasis (Zeller, 1876)

Orig. Comb: Setiostoma xanthobasis Zeller, 1876

xanthobasis - Latin for 'yellow base' (1)

Wingspan: 12-14 mm (2)

Adult: FW dark brown, with lemon yellow triangular area, continuous with a yellow tegula, occupying the basal third except for dark brown, short costal lenticular spot and a longer, narrower spot along the posterior wing margin, both spots concolorous with the ground color. The apical two thirds of FW have an inconspicuous area of white scales near the midlength of the costa and a similar, smaller area slightly more distad. There is a broad transverse band, parallel to distal margin of the yellow area and a small group of scales behind the basal white area. There is a short curved band extending from the distal white area and a submarginal longer straight, iridescent blue violet band parallel to the outer wing margin. HW dark brown with a white patch on the basal half of the anterior margin. (2)

Found along the Atlantic Coastal Plain from south-eastern Massachusetts, south to central Florida and eastern Texas, and north in the Mississippi Valley to Missouri and Illinois. (2)

Distribution & Flight-period Chart (3)

Larvae feed on Quercus species, including Quercus nigra and Quercus stellata. They feed from within a shelter constructed of two leaves sandwiched together with silk. (2)

Larva; pupa; adult