Unidentified Moth - Kearfottia n-sp

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Tubeworm, Bagworm, and Clothes Moths (Tineoidea) » Bagworm Moths (Psychidae) » Naryciinae » Kearfottia » Kearfottia n sp. - Hodges#0319.99 (Kearfottia n-sp)

Photo#728355

Copyright © 2012 Chuck Sexton

Unidentified Moth - Kearfottia n-sp

n.w. Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA
October 20, 2012
Size: Length est. 6-8mm

This distinctive little moth has puzzled me. I'm not even sure of its family; I have now wandered through the *entire MPG website* and failed to ID this critter or to even settle on a family. It shares some similarity in shape with certain Tortricids, particularly the Cochylini (=Cochylinae of old). It vaguely resembles some Henricus sp. but matches none. (MPG has no photo of Henricus edwardsiana, which got me wondering if this moth could be that species, but that is really reaching.) It also reminds me of some of the Acontiinae bird-dropping mimics but I can find none which is simply black in the front 1/3 and white in the rear. Any help would be much appreciated. Photographed at porchlight in wooded (juniper-elm-oak) suburban area.

Images of this individual: tag all

Unidentified Moth - Head shot #1 - Kearfottia n-sp

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Contributed by Chuck Sexton on 6 December, 2012 - 2:06am
Last updated 8 December, 2012 - 2:01am

Moved

Moved from Kearfottia.

Nice moth!
Thanks!

… Maury J. Heiman, 8 December, 2012 - 2:01am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Chuck Sexton, 7 December, 2012 - 12:09am

Perhaps Kearfottia sp.

I've been looking through all my hard copy resources and may have a partial answer. In Knudson & Bordelon's Publ. #6, "Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Texas", part 2, plate 1 of "Hill Country Microlepidoptera", Figure 3 shows a spread specimen of a "Kearfottia sp." (Tineidae) with the annotation as "An undescribed species related to eastern K. albifasciella." The latter moth can be seen on MPG here. K. albifasciella (Hodges #0319) has the right shape and head structure/scaling; imagining the rear third of that moth mostly white with just a few spots is a fair description of K&B's undescribed species...and my critter.

So who'd like to describe a new Kearfottia?

… Chuck Sexton, 7 December, 2012 - 12:01am

Confirmed as Kearfottia new sp.

I spent time at the Univ. of Texas Insect Collection where they have about 25 specimens of this undescribed taxon, determined by E. Knudson as "Kearfottia new sp." Most specimens were from Travis County (Brackenridge Field Lab), but there are also single specimens from Val Verde and Bastrop Cos. Collection dates range from 24 Sept to 11 Nov. I may upload one or two images of pinned specimens when they can create a species page for this critter. Of note, the collection also has two specimens of K. albifasciella (#0319) from Bastrop Co., both taken in May 1994.

… Chuck Sexton, 7 December, 2012 - 10:34pm

UPDATE: Head shot

Based on Robert's comment, I'm uploading a cropped but full-resolution image of the head of this moth. Perhaps this new image will help someone. It seems the moth may have slightly upturned labial palpi, but they aren't very prominent. I looked through Gelechiids and Elachistids a couple of times (on MPG) but nothing seems to fit.

… Chuck Sexton, 6 December, 2012 - 10:50pm

Could it be

something like Epiblema scudderiana (Goldenrod Gall Moth - Hodges#3186)?

… John R. Maxwell, 6 December, 2012 - 8:28am

"Something like..."

..is the operative phrase. Color scheme is reminiscent of a couple of the Epiblema's and I definitely slowed down in MPG when I got to those plates. Same could be said for Gypsonoma aceriana (3229.2). However, my critter lacks any hint of the Olethreutine "racing stripes" on the costal margin, and little else about the moth seems consistent with that subfamily (e.g. head shape and scaling, wing shape, posture, etc.). Thanks for taking a look!

… Chuck Sexton, 6 December, 2012 - 10:27am

Puzzling indeed

Chuck,
I've tried every searching trick I know, to no avail. I searched distribution data for Texas. August-November, clicking on anything I didn't recognize ... nothing. I even browsed thru BOLD. I don't see why we can't find such a distinctive moth, We have to be looking in all the wrong places. I noticed even Maury passed this one up. What are the odds you have a hi-rez image you could add a close-up of the head (better look of palps, eyelashes, etc)? Someone out there's bound to know what this is. We'll just have to wait'n'see.
Robert

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 6 December, 2012 - 4:59pm

irrelated question

Glad you chimed in on this one, Robert. I'm fascinated with the search as well. How can I keep tabs on this image, even if it would be moved from this location on the site to another? I'll be curious to see the final ID. Thanks!

… Marcia Morris, 6 December, 2012 - 7:10pm

You're subscribed, now

Anything happens, you'll get an email ... like i just got one for your post

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 6 December, 2012 - 7:29pm

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