Species Pseudotelphusa basifasciella - Hodges#1868

1868

Pseudotelphusa basifasciella (Zeller, 1873)

Gelechia basifasciella Zeller 1873

BASIFASCIELLA: translates approximately to "basal band"; probably refers to the prominent black band near the base of the forewing

wingspan 10-15 mm.

Adult: forewing slender, white with two black spots along costa and several smaller spots and speckling near outer margin; thick black oblique band in basal area angles backward from costa almost to inner margin; hindwing whitish basally, shading to gray distally, with very wide pale gray fringe

Texas and Arkansas to Georgia, north to Maryland

adults fly in late spring and summer

no information on this species

larvae of an undescribed Pseudotelphusa species in Missouri feed on leaves of oak

at least two other Pseudotelphusa species may feed on birch and serviceberry, judging from their specific epithets amelanchierella (Amelanchier=serviceberry) and betulella (Betula=birch)

no information on this species

an undescribed Pseudotelphusa species in Missouri lays eggs in spring on leaves of oak as soon as the leaves have fully opened; larvae tie two overlapping leaves together with spun silk, creating a shelter within which they feed, skeletonizing the inner surface of the tied leaves; larvae mature in about 2 weeks, then drop to the ground to pupate

By creating leaf-tie shelters early in the season, and then vacating them shortly afterward, larvae of an undescribed Pseudotelphusa species in Missouri make shelters available to various other insects, increasing the diversity of leaf-eating insects on oak trees during the summer (see PDF article in Print References below).

other Pseudotelphusa species have dark brown forewings with obscure markings (compare photos of 5 species by SangMi Lee at MPG)

Arogalea cristifasciella has an oblique black band that angles forward from the costa to the base of the wing

Lill, John T. and Robert J. Marquis. 2003. Ecosystem Engineering by Caterpillars Increases Insect Herbivore Diversity on White Oak. Ecology. 84(3): 682-690. - available online in PDF format

Moth Photographers Group (1)

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (2)