Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Register
·
Log In
Home
Guide
ID Request
Recent
Frass
Forums
Donate
Help
Clickable Guide
Calendar
Upcoming Events
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho
July 24-27
Moth submissions
from
National Moth Week 2024
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico
, July 20-24
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana
, April 28-May 2
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2019 gathering in Louisiana
, July 25-27
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2018 gathering in Virginia
, July 27-29
Previous events
Taxonomy
Browse
Info
Images
Links
Books
Data
Home
» Guide »
Arthropods (Arthropoda)
»
Hexapods (Hexapoda)
»
Insects (Insecta)
»
Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera)
»
Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea)
»
Geometrid Moths (Geometridae)
»
Ennominae
»
Macariini
»
Digrammia
»
Digrammia atrofasciata - Hodges#6368 (Digrammia atrofasciata)
Photo#1498843
Copyright © 2018
Dave Barker
Digrammia atrofasciata
29.797499, -100.998049, Val Verde County, Texas, USA
March 7, 2018
Assuming this really is D. atrofasciata, this is what we vertebrate biologists would call a tyrosinase-positive albino.
tag
·
login
or
register
to post comments
Contributed by
Dave Barker
on 9 March, 2018 - 9:09pm
Last updated 12 March, 2018 - 10:52am
Moved
Moved from
ID Request
.
…
Bob Biagi
, 12 March, 2018 - 10:52am
login
or
register
to post comments
There are different types of albinism
Tyrosinase-positive albinism is a condition of color and pattern created by a mutation of the gene that is the blueprint for melanin. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is a catalyst in the synthesis of melanin. In the case of tyrosinase-positive albinism, the amino acid cysteine is inserted into the melanin pigment molecule during its synthesis to create phaeomelanin. Instead of black and gray melanin pigments in the pigment holding cells (chloroplasts), phaeomelanin is substituted. Phaeomelanins are reddish pigments. For example, the hair of red-headed humans is red because phaeomelanins are substituted for melanins.
Tyrosinase-negative albinism is the classic type of albino with no forms of melanin present at all in pigment holding dermal and epidermal cells. The usual cause for this type of albinism is the absence of tyrosinase and the consequent inability to synthesize any melanin at all.
Tyrosinase-positive albino animals show the pattern that would have been created by melanins, but that pattern is instead created with phaeomelanins and is expressed in shades of red, reddish browns, and ochre.
I'm certain that this is an albino D. atrofasciata, and the type of albinism is tyrosinase-positive albinism.
…
Dave Barker
, 10 March, 2018 - 8:46am
login
or
register
to post comments
Comment viewing options
Flat list - collapsed
Flat list - expanded
Threaded list - collapsed
Threaded list - expanded
Date - newest first
Date - oldest first
10 comments per page
30 comments per page
50 comments per page
70 comments per page
90 comments per page
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.