Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Leucomele miriamella Dietz, 1905
(1) Explanation of Names
Dietz named the species in honor of his daughter.
(1)Numbers
Leucomele miriamella is the only member of the genus found north of Mexico.
(2)
Robinson (2001) listed a single species in the genus.
Size
Dietz (1905) listed the wingspan as 9.5-13 mm. 5 to 6 mm long.
(1)Identification
Head: Top of head rough haired (scaled), face yellowish-white. Palpi long, folded, mostly dark.
Antenna: Dark, simple, thick; over half as long as wing.
Thorax: Dark purplish-brown. Underside silvery-gray.
Wings: Dark brown with patches of white scales. Two white streaks from base to mid wing, lower one wide and straight, upper one narrow, slanted. Mid wing costa edge has a divided white mark; more large white dashes around wing tip. Inner margin has vague white scales and a small patch at anal angle. Fringes striped white, brown, white; brown dots also mixed in. Hindwings and fringe grayish-brown, shiny.
Legs: Striped brown and white. Hind shins (tibiae) fringed with long white hairs.
Abdomen: Brownish-gray on top side, silvery gray on underside.
The original description of
Leucomele miriamella Dietz, is available online in the print references below.
(1)
Forbes (1923) description.
(3)
Genitalia:
Range
Scattered records in eastern North America.
(4),
(2)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Habitat
Usually found on tree trunks like Black Cherry.
Season
The adults are most common from June to August.
(2)Food
Debris, fungus, rotted animal and vegetation.
Remarks
Types:
Syntype Leucomele miriamella (4 males, 2 females) by Dietz, 1905. MCZ#2854. Locality: Maryland and Pennsylvania. In the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. Two additional male syntypes in US National Museum and one male syntype in British Museum Natural History.
Print References
Dietz, W.G., 1905. Revision of the genera and species of the tineid subfamilies Amydriinae and Tineinae inhabiting North America.
Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 31:
90; pl. 3, fig. 8; pl. 6, fig. 7.
(1)
Forbes, W.T.M., 1923.
The Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States.
137.
(3)Internet References
Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 1905, Vol. 31, pp. 89 to 90 by Dietz.
Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1923, Memoir #68, pg. 137 by Forbes.
Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Vol. 152, pg. 52.
