Species Mellilla xanthometata - Orange Wing - Hodges#6271.1

6271.1

the only species in this genus in North America (and the world) listed at All-Leps

abundant (1)

wingspan 16-21 mm

Adult: hindwing bright orange in male; forewing varies from gray to brown with variable but nearly straight lines and black subterminal spot, sometimes obscured by dark shading beyond PM line; female paler than male, forewing light tan with little or no dark shading beyond PM line and no black subterminal spot; hindwing more yellow than orange (see comparison photos of males and females by Bob Belmont at MPG)

Ontario and New York to South Carolina, west to Texas, north to Nebraska and Wisconsin

adults fly from April to October (1)

Covell's Guide (1) gives "locust trees" as the larval foodplant but doesn't specify whether that means Gleditsia species or Robinia species - or both

Larry Line states that larvae feed on Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

adults are active day and night (1)

type specimen was collected in Buffalo, New York

live adult images by Robert Patterson and Larry Line, plus common name reference (Moth Photographers Group)

pinned adult image (CBIF)

adult images plus common name reference, dates, and larval foodplant (Larry Line, Maryland)

common name reference plus foodplant and flight season (Ohio State U.)

presence and status in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

presence in New York; list (Timothy McCabe, Olive Natural Heritage Society)

presence in South Carolina; county distribution map (John Snyder, Furman U., South Carolina)

presence in Texas; list (Dale Clark, Texas)

presence in Wisconsin; list search on "xanthometata" (Lepidopterists Society Season Summary, U. of Florida)

classification history plus type specimen location, synonyms, references (Brian Pitkin, Butterflies and Moths of the World)