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Photo#191166
Moth ID request - Omphalocera cariosa

Moth ID request - Omphalocera cariosa
8 mi. SW of Wimberley, Comal County, Texas, USA
May 13, 2008
Size: 44mm wingspan
With a snout like this, I expected an ID in the Hypeninae, but no. At 44mm (smallest specimen was 38mm), it is a fairly substantial moth. Dark dots on abdomen are a row of raised tufts that protrude through the folded wings.

Images of this individual: tag all
Moth ID request - Omphalocera cariosa Moth ID request - Omphalocera cariosa Moth ID request - Omphalocera cariosa

Moved
Moved from Moths.

Omphalocera
Omphalocera cariosa, # 5625.

 
I can see that, and
O. cariosa appears to be somewhat variable, but I have such a hard time visualizing any Pyralid (or Crambid) greater in wing span than about 24mm. I've got a specimen of one of these guys that was 44mm! Is this the super-sized species of the family?

 
Omphalocera
Well, that is a wee bit larger than I would expect for this species ... but just barely. This species is definitely a very large pyralid. And 44mm would be closer in size to the very similar Omphalocera dentosa, but here's why cariosa is the more likely candidate: The reddish-brown tint (olivaceous in dentosa), and in the dark median area, there is a pale spot on the subcostal vein with a second spot directly below it by the median vein. Those spots are absent (or extremely reduced) in dentosa, but are diagnostic for cariosa.

So I feel quite confident that this is an O. cariosa that's just a tad on the large size (and a male, BTW). It is odd to see such a large pyralid when being so used to the typically sized pyralids. I have Dioryctria amatella that is 34mm - a bit large for that species, but 100% Dioryctria amatella.

This is a great addition to the guide.

 
Larval stages
After seeing the 2 larval instars by Valerie Gawenda at MPG, I'm intrigued. Field study! The host is not obvious in her photos, but it looks for all the world like grape. Can you verify?

 
Host
The only foodplant that I've seen listed for cariosa, is Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba). O. dentosa has been found on Berberis sp.

It might not hurt to contact Valerie (from the MPG contacts page) and see if she knows what those larva were on. It could confirm one of the known food plants or may be record of a new one.

 
Berberis, yes
Would make sense, but pawpaw, nope. Sure, I grow it in containers, but the nearest population is 75 miles east of here. I'll contact Valerie.

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