Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Eoparargyractis irroratalis (Dyar, 1917)
Elophila irroratalis Dyar, 1917
Identification
Small, with triangular wings usually held tent-like over body. Has the typical pattern for the subfamily with brown bands across white ground color on both wings and dark speckliing in the outer half; a series of brown, white, and orange radiating rays near in the outer margin of the forewing; hindwings with a series of 5 black marginal “eyespots” which are flanked by smaller irridescent patches.
Distinguished from similar moths in genus Petrophila by a combination of: (a) dark brown arching line at base of forewing; (b) innermost (subapical) white ray on FW is much thinner than outer (subterminal) one; (c) strong yellow tint on hindwings in front of eyespots.
Range
Found primarily in the southeastern U.S., including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, with a few outlier records in Maryland, Montana and British Columbia.
Season
Adults have been recorded on wing nearly year round in the southern part of the range.
(1)See Also
Eoparargyractis plevie is very similar but slightly paler, usually lacks the yellow tint in front of HW eyespots; ranges mainly in northeastern U.S. and Canada but may overlap with Dewy Leafcutter on mid-Atlantic Coast.
Dewy Leafcutter overlaps with at least three species of Petrophila: Feather-edged (left), Canadian (middle), and Santa Fe (right). Most Petrophila species will have white rays on outer FW of nearly equal width and won't have the conspicuous dark brown arching lines at base of FWs; they lack the strong yellow tint in front of HW eyespots and have a thin dark line on top of some/all of the eyespots.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group – images of live and pinned adults
BOLD Systems - images of pinned DNA supported specimens
Wikipedia - brief description
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