Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#817440
moth - Hahncappsia mancalis

moth - Hahncappsia mancalis
SRER, Florida Canyon, Santa Rita Mts, Pima County, Arizona, USA
July 26, 2013
gathering_2013

Moved to Hahncappsia mancalis
Moved from Neohelvibotys polingi.

Brian Scholtens shares these thoughts in response to my questions on this submission:

"Yes, that is pretty much correct. It sort of depends on what is considered a ST band, but basically, on the forewing of Hahncappsia, the dark ST band is separated from the margin by light color, whereas on both Helvibotys and Neohelvibotys, if there is a ST band (or just dark edging - maybe a terminal band), there is no light separation from the margin.

I can see the confusion on this specimen because the PM band is basically smooth. Nearly all Hahncappsia have some scalloping or toothing on the PM band, but this one lacks that. Because of that I would agree that it is H. mancalis, a fairly widespread species. I have specimens from AZ that match this one pretty well. That's sort of nice, because many of the SW Hahncappsia species are very difficult to tell apart. I collected a bunch on a couple of trips for Lep Soc meetings in Sierra Vista, and have dissected them all to confirm IDs. I ended up with 7 different species in a few days!"

Hahncappsia mancalis?
Pretty sure the st. line (broad diffuse band between pm. line and outer margin) eliminates all species of Neohelvibotys and Helvibotys.

This seems to match the Vargo image of Hahncappsia mancalis at MPG as well as the description by Capps, "...Similar to marculenta in color and maculation, but specimens of mancalis are somewhat duller and less ochreous, with definition of markings sharper, subterminal band of forewing usually broader anteriorly, and subterminal line of hindwing closer to outer margin (pale ochreous area between line and outer margin of wing narrower than subterminal line)."(1)

Dr. Brian Scholtens told me that N. polingi
is restricted to south Florida in the east. Does it make it that far west?

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

4979 - Neohelvibotys polingi
(no rsvp, thanks)