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Photo#1650658
Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia

Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia
Plum Canyon, Anza-Borrego State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
March 24, 2019
Size: Body Length: 5.6 mm
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This is a recently discovered species. Though currently undescribed, it is known and a name & description will be given in the upcoming revision of Adela by Davis & Medeiros...due out in the near future.

There appeared to be up to 7 or so at a time fluttering within and slightly above the open stems of a large creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) engulfed below with profusely flowering Phacelia distans. It was late in the morning on a calm, sunny, and warm day, and I observed them for over half an hour. I’d guess there were about 15-20 distinct individuals in that large creosote “clump”...perhaps more...though I only saw 3 actually stop flying and land: one on an inflorescence of unopened Phacelia distans buds; one on a creosote twig; and one on flowers of the native mustard Caulanthus lasiophyllus growing with the Phacelia distans within the large creosote bush. Only the one on the Caulanthus lingered long enough for me to get unposed in situ photos:

   

I finally netted one, chilled it for 10 minutes, and was able to get the final four photos in this series. When I released it I put it on a Phacelia distans flower and it lingered long enough for me to get the first two photos seen here. However I didn’t see any of these Adela land and linger on any open Phacelia flowers on their own (just on that inflorescence of unopened buds).

Wandering around the vicinity I saw many more groups of these Adela fluttering within the open stems of other large creosote bushes engulfed in flowering Phacelia distans...but, again, none of them were seen to land. Based on these observations I'm speculating I was seeing males performing a type of lekking behavior...but I don't know if that's correct.

I thank Chris Grinter & David Bettman, and also Dave Wagner, for their assistance here.

Images of this individual: tag all
Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia Undescribed desert Adela species - Cauchas trifascia

Moved
Moved from Adela.

undescribed Anza Borrego Adelid
This is a species of Cauchas.

 
Thanks, Al...but can you please provide reasons & references?
In particular, what specific diagnostic characters or other facts demonstrate that this is Cuachas rather than Adela?

And can you cite & recommend any accessible references that I and others can consult to confirm the claim for ourselves?

An assertion by itself, even if correct, is often not altogether satisfying...it's good to be able to follow up on things (and have some means to confirm, as sometimes people make errors ;-).

 
Reasons for Cauchas
Had I been able to see your comments above I wouldn't have even made any of my own. I don't know why your comments didn't show as I initially downloaded the posting.
But here are my reasons anyway:
David Bettman and Chris Grinter showed me actual specimens of this moth from the Cal Academy collection. We all agree that it is a Cauchas. It is large for a Cauchas but it would be small for an Adela. The antennae are too short and thick and dark for an Adela. The eyes are smaller and set lower on the side of the head than most Adela. Adela punctiferella and perhaps females of oplerella are the only spp. of Adela I know whose eyes could be that small in the females. The wings are too squared off at the outer (distal) margin. This combination of characters will put it in Cauchas. You can compare the images of Adela's and Cauchas's on moth Photographers Group website.
https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/pinned.php?plate=01&page=2&sort=h
But you do well to ask for reasons. Moth Photographers Group is a good reference for making picture IDs of most moths.