Species Tarache augustipennis - Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111

9111

Tarache augustipennis(Grote, 1875) (1)

Therasea augustipennis

Synonym: Conacontia flavicosta Smith, 1900

Phylogenetic sequence # 931365

Tarache has 34 species north of Mexico. (2)

wingspan 23-30 mm, based on several Internet photos

Adult: forewing dark gray to blackish with white strip along costa broken into four patches by 3 intervening dark bars; the first white costal patch is the largest, extending almost half-way along costa from base; the remaining 3 costal patches are much smaller, and progressively decrease in size toward apex; the first and second costal patches may sometimes merge to form a single whole or partially-divided patch; reniform and orbicular spots merged with or surrounded by black (not surrounded narrowly by white); additional pale diffuse patch in anal angle area; hindwing dark brownish gray with pale fringe

western North America: Manitoba to southwestern British Columbia, south to Arizona, east to Texas

fens, bogs, foothill valleys, riparian woodlands in arid grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from May to August in the north (Alberta)

unknown

Tarache orba, now a synonym of Tarache huachuca, forewing may also have four white patches along costa, but the first patch extends only about one-third distance along costa, the second patch is almost as large as the first, and the reniform and orbicular spots are usually surrounded narrowly by white

T. huachuca forewing has only two white costal patches, the first patch partially divided by broken dark bar (see pinned adult image of T. huachuca by Bruce Walsh)

species of Acontia, Tarachidia, and several other genera have superficially similar patterns on the forewing.

Grote, 1875, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 27:426.

Moth Photographers Group

nearctica.com

pinned adult image by G.G. Anweiler, plus common name reference and species account (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)