Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Explanation of Names
Generic epithet
Adela is Greek meaning "hidden," because the caterpillars are so well hidden.
(1)Numbers
Powell
(2) listed 12 species, two of which (
bella and
aeruginella) are now synonymized under a single name he did not recognize (
caeruleella), leaving 11 species:
8 western (eldorada, flammeusella, oplerella, punctiferella, septentrionella, singulella, thorpella, & trigrapha);
2 eastern (caeruleella & ridingsella); and
1 far northern coast-to-coast (purpurea).
Arnett
(3) stated there are 10 species but did not list them...it's not clear which of the 11 above were included or omitted.
Identification
Small moths with very long antennae (often 3+ times as long as forewing in males; 1-2 times as long as forewing in females)
Basal half of antennae hairy & thickened in females of A. caeruleella.
A key to nearctic
Adela species appears on pg 215 of Powell (1969)
(2).
Range
Much of North America. also occurs in Eurasia.
Habitat
Grassy open areas, chaparral, or forests where larval host plants are present.
Season
Adults typically fly in spring (March to May) when their host plants are in flower.
(4)Food
Larvae reported to feed on rotting leaves on forest floor, and also reported to feed in flowers or seeds of milkweed, other plants at first, and then on foliage. These later larvae live in cases made from oval pieces of leaves.
Adults take nectar, since found at flowers.
Print References
Arnett, p. 659, fig. 27.24
A. purpurea (3)
Brimley, p. 313, lists
A. bella = caeruleella for North Carolina in April-May.
(5)
Covell, p. 455, plate 62 #8
A. purpurea (6)
Holland, p. 437, plate XLVIII, fig. 45
A. bella = caeruleella; reports
adults feeding on
Asclepias nectar.
(7)
Milne, p. 705, fig. 522, reports larvae feed on
Asclepias, make cases.
(8)
Powell & Opler, p. 40, Plate 2.
(4)Internet References
Adelidae page from BAMONA (= Butterflies and Moths of North America)
Adela Plates from "Moths of Western North America" by Powell & Opler
(4)
Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota pinned adult image of
A. purpurea
Classification of
Adela in family Adelidae by Davis
in Kristensen, 1999 (Butterflies and Moths of the World)