Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Choreutis sexfasciella (Sauber, 1902)
Choreutidia sexfasciella Sauber, 1902
Simaethis emplecta Turner, 1942
Simaethis fulminea Meyrick, 1912
Explanation of Names
Choreutis sexfasciella (Sauber, 1902) is now recognized within the North American fauna north of Mexico with multiple reports from southern California. Originally reported as Choreutis emplecta, the names were synonymized in Heppner (2023). Although emplecta was transferred to Anthophila in Bippus (2020), Heppner retained sexfasciella in the genus Choreutis without explanation or reference to Bippus (2020). Also reported from Florida in Hayden et al. (2022).
Identification
Google translation of original description of Choreutidia sexfasciella Sauber, 1902:
"884. Choreutidia sexfasciella, Sauber, nov. spec.
Preserved: 1 copy from Luzon.
Flight time: March.
Wing length: ♂ 4 mill .; ♀ unknown.
The eyes are brown, the head is yellow, the antennae are white and black ringed, the eyelashes fine, and in proportion quite long, shorter towards the tip. The thorax is yellow, with brown hair towards the back; the abdomen is brown. The legs are white and brown, the feet are black.
The basic color of the front wings is chocolate brown; near the root is a broken, lead-colored transverse band, a second almost straight transverse band extends from one-third of the front edge to one-third of the inner edge. In the middle area there are some black-brown spots surrounded by yellow, the top one in the middle cell, below this a jagged one, on which a lead-colored band is attached towards the middle of the inner edge, a third spot stands between the top spot around the inner corner, but is to the outside without yellow surround. Four lead-colored cross bands aim behind the middle of the front edge against the inner edge and inner corner: the first two are more yellow at their beginning, first take the direction towards the outer edge, and then pull in arc-like turns towards the inner edge, the first disappears at the outer black- brown spot, and the band mentioned above, which is drawn towards the middle of the inner edge, is to be regarded as its continuation; the last two of these four bands pull in the same direction with the outer edge and, like the first two, make arc-like turns so that they touch each other and also with the second band several times; the second and third bandage also reach the inner edge shortly before the inner corner, the fourth band disappears just above the inner corner; all six bands have black single dots. The outer edge is black-brown. The fringes are yellowish brown, with a thick, dark dividing line, behind them they are dark brown in the middle and the corners.
The hind wings are brown, towards the inner corner there is an indistinct, lighter line, on the outer edge there is a fine yellow line, the fringes are brown at the roots, then yellow with a thick, dark dividing line.
The underside is brown, on the front edge of the forewings are only indistinct markings. On the hind wings the line towards the interior corner is double and clear."
Range
Los Angeles and adjacent counties, CA - BugGuide/iNaturalist.
Type Locality (C. emplecta): Cairns, QLD, Australia.
Type Locality (C. sexfasciella): Philippines.
Type Locality (S. fulminea): "Ceylon, Trincomali".
Remarks
Two initial sightings from LA Co., CA: iNaturalist #
59399595, iNaturalist #
59258619.
As of April 2021, now recorded from three counties.
Print References
Bippus, M., 2020. Records of Lepidoptera from the Malagasy region with description of new species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Noctuidae, Alucitidae, Choreutidae, Euteliidae, Gelechiidae, Blastobasidae, Pterophoridae, Tonzidae, Tineidae, Praydidae, Cosmopterigidae, Batrachedridae). Phelsuma, 28:
60-100.
Heppner, J.B., 2023. Choreutis sexfasciella introductions in southern California and Florida (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae: Choreutinae). Lepidoptera Novae, 16:
49-54.
Meyrick, 1912. Exot. Micr. 1:
48. (
S. fulminea, syn. of
C. sexfasciella)
(1)
Sauber, 1902. In Semper, G. (ed.), Die nachtfalter. Heterocera. Sechste lieferung. Die schmetterlinge der Philippinischen Inseln. Beitrag zur Indo-Malayischen lepidopteren-fauna. 2:
702.
Turner, A.J., 1942. Fragmenta lepidopterologica. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. 53:
93. (
C. emplecta)
