Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Dryadaula terpsichorella (Busck, 1910)
Cyane terpsichorella Busck, 1910
Synonyms
Choropleca terpsichorella Durrant 1914
Diachalastis tetraglossa Meyrick 1920
Explanation of Names
Powell & Opler (2009) stated "The common name is derived from characteristic circular gyrations, with a crablike sideways gait, which the moth performs each time it alights."
(1)Size
Adult: Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 3.5-4 mm.
(1)
Larva: Full-grown larva is about 9–10 mm
(2) Identification
Adult: FW mainly creamy white with some delicate brown, the tips of the forewings are margined with a blackish line that is outwardly edged with white
(2). Ground color can vary from buff to dark brown; note the diagonal white bands at the junction of thorax and FWs and the folded (indented) tips of the FWs in resting posture; antennae are banded brown and white.
Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
(3)
Larva: Larva cylindrical and very dark brown with two brownish spots on each side of segments three and four.
(2) Range
Introduced to Florida and California.
(3)
Powell & Opler (2009) stated the species was first reported from San Diego in 1998. Native to south-eastern Polynesia.
(3)Food
Clarke (1971) reported the larvae in dead tissue of Pandanus, banana, sugarcane.
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the larvae were found in dead leaves and may be a fungus feeder.
(1)Remarks
Dryadaula terpsichorella "was originally described from Hawaii, where it was believed to have been introduced in 1900."
(1) Print References
Busck, A. 1910. New Central-American Microlepidoptera introduced into the Hawaiian Islands.
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 12:
134.
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009.
Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, p. 51; pl. 2, fig. 29.
(1)
Zimmerman, E.C., 1978. Microlepidoptera.
Insects of Hawaii.
9(1):328 (includes detailed description of all stages and keys)
