Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Tinea apicimaculella – Chambers, 1875
Size
5 to 6 mm long. Wingspan 11 to 14.
Identification
Original description by Chambers with added description by Dietz:
"Antennae and outer surface of the palpi brown, inner surface of the palpi and the apex yellow; head sordid yellowish; thorax and forewings above the fold yellowish and dusted with fuscous so as to obscure the ground color; there is a large brown spot about the middle of the wing and one at the end of the disc and behind it, the apical part of the wing is marked with more or less obliquely transverse rows of small dark brown spots; beneath the fold the wing is but little suffused with fuscous."
"The above is Chamber's description, and while I entertain no doubt of the identification of the species, the description may be amplified, and to some extent modified, as follows: Second joint of labial palpi strongly roughened beneath with dark brown scales. In all specimens before me the thorax, except apices of patagia, dark purple-brown; the dusting in costal half of forewing consists of a well-marked stripe extending from base to apex, above it, except costa, the dusting is less dense and becomes more evanescent beyond the middle; the longitudinal stripe expands toward the costa before the apex; "the obliquely-transverse rows of small, dark brown spots" are difficult to identify, though fairly well marked in one specimen, what is marked, however, are a row of large spots surrounding the apex, and from these extend dark lines along the veins. The spot in middle of wing is on the fold."
(1)
Head: Pale straw yellow, long haired(scaled). Palpi yellowish, brown on underside, scaled.
Antenna: Yellowish, ringed with brown. About 2/3 as along as wing.
Thorax: Dark brown, sides pale straw yellow.
Wings: Straw yellow with a few brown speckles. Center of wing has dark brown streak from base to wing tip; broken at brown discal spot. Spot above streak about mid-wing. Wing tip has series of brown spots on margin. Fringe straw yellow with broken brown line through it.
Legs: All segments brown with white tips, hind leg lighter. Long spurs.
Similar Species: Homostinea curviliniella identical but has a speckled wing tip, not a definite row of black dots.
Range
Southern U.S. and eastern half U.S.; Ontario.
Season
July to September in the north; all season in south.
Food
Debris, fungus, rotted animal and vegetation matter.
Remarks
Types:
Holotype as Tinea apicimaculella Unknown - not listed at MCZ. 1989
See Also
Homostinea curviliniella seems to lack a distinct orbicular spot and row of large spots around apex.
Print References
Description by Dietz and original description by Chambers: Dietz, Wm. G. 1905. Revision of the genera and species of the tineid subfamilies Amydriinae and Tineinae inhabiting North America.
Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 31:
47 (1)Internet References
Images and info at Moth Photographers Groups
The Cincinnati Quarterly Journal of Science, 1875, Vol. 2, pp. 257 to 258 by Chambers.
Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 1905, Vol. 31, pp. 47 to 48 by Dietz.
Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1923, Memoir #68, pg. 126, by Forbes.
