Species Usingeriessa onyxalis - Hodges#4767

4767

Synonyms:

Cataclysta divulsalis Walker; Druce 1896(1)

Cataclysta onyxalis Hampson 1897(1)

Elophila cancellalis Dyar 1917(2)(1)

Forewing 7-8 mm.(1)

General coloration dark brown and the maculation is crisp and contrasting compared to U. brunnildalis. Forewings with wide dark basal area, followed by a narrow dark AM line. The median area is lighter, but heavily dusted with dark scaling, and outwardly delimited by an angular dark PM line. The broad, distinct, dark-brown subapical triangle is characteristic. It is separated from a narrow orangish dark-edged terminal band by a white wedge. The HWs are generally patterned like the FWs but with a series of five black subterminal dots separated by metallic blue patches. These subterminal spots are preceded basally by a crenulated black line. [Adapted from Munroe's description.](1)

Edwards Plateau of Texas, south to Costa Rica and perhaps farther.(1)

Adults are attracted to lights near clear-running streams.

Apparently two flight periods, May-August and October-November.

Early stages are unknown but the genus is presumed to have life history traits similar to Parargyactis and other Acentropinae with aquatic, algae-feeding larvae.(3)

Usingeriessa brunnildalis:

Described from California and ranging from Sonoma and Placer counties south to San Diego County and thence to Arizona and possibly West Texas (Munroe recites "one specimen identified by Lange" from Del Rio, which is more likely to be U. onyxalis).