Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#1924432
Trichocerapoda oblita? - Eucoptocnemis dollii - female

Trichocerapoda oblita? - Eucoptocnemis dollii - Female
El Malpais National Conservation Area, Cibola County, New Mexico, USA
September 22, 2020
Size: ~18 mm TL
Came to UV light at Joe Skeen Campground. Found two of these that evening. I looked closely at many Sympistis species, but believe these to be Trichocerapoda. With only a handful of images available for Trichocerapoda oblita, it is difficult to make comparisons of individual moths. The one image posted at MPG is of a male and has substantial pale shading of the ST area. According to Pacific Northwest Moths, this species is dimorphic with the females being overall darker with less pale shading in the ST area. The PNW Moths description of oblita says the orbicular and reniform spots are usually touching or fused and images posted there reflect this, however images posted at MPG and Barcode of Life do not show the spots touching or fused. Even in the case of the orbicular and reniform spots not touching or fused, it does appear to be consistent from the few images available that the inner side of reniform spot has a tendency to extend toward the base, but I question if this is an absolute must for this species. PNW Moths describes oblita to have tan streaks running through the distal cell through the reniform spot, and in the fold thru the claviform spot, both reaching the ST line. This streaking characteristic appears consistent for both sexes and may be a critical key to this species in cases where the reniform spot does not exhibit an obvious extension toward the base. Compare to images I recently submitted for ID from Nevada and Utah.

Moved

Eucoptocnemis dollii
Eucoptocnemis dollii
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=10643