Species Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984

4984

Helvibotys pucilla (Druce)

Filodes pucilla Druce 1895

Helvibotys subcostalis (Dyar, 1912); syn. (Lygropia)

one of 5 species in this genus in North America listed at All-Leps

wingspan ~14 mm (BG data)

Adult: forewing black in basal quarter/third and distal half, leaving broad yellow band in median area; hindwing yellow except for broad black terminal band; fringe yellow on all wings; antennae white from tip to beyond middle, then black to base; tip of abdomen black; remainder of body, head, and legs yellow

scattered records, TX-OK, KY - Map (MPG)

south at least to Guatemala

June to August (+?) (MPG)

"This species is known only from females. There is another species, known only from males called Helvibotys subcostalis Munroe, which is solid orange, with no black. These are probably the same species, which if it can be proven by rearing, would be H. pucilla (the older name). I THINK yours is a female, but please check.

There is a second similar species, Helvibotys freemani Munroe, which is orange with thin black marginal bands in the male on both wings, thicker bands in the female, which also has a black tipped abdomen. H. freemani is fairly common at times in southern Texas. H. pucilla is quite rare, known from Texas, Louisiana, and now, Oklahoma."

[the above is an excerpt of a comment by Ed Knudsen here relayed by Bob Patterson]

Helvibotys subcostalis (Dyar) - (MPG)

Druce. H. 1900 Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Lepidoptera-Heterocera. 2: 263

Brou, V.A., 2007. Helvibotys subcostalis (Dyar, 1912) and Helvibotys pucilla (Druce, 1895) in Louisiana

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

adult illustration [fig. 27] taken from this page (Smithsonian Institution Libraries)