Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
described in 1872 by Zeller, who originally placed it in genus Homophysa
Explanation of Names
Kidney Moth: a suggested common name based on the meaning of the specific and generic epithets, reniculalis coming from the Latin "ren, renis" (kidney), and Nephrogramma coming from the Greek "nephros" (kidney); I don't know what the describer of the species (Zeller) and the creator of the genus (Munroe) were thinking at the time but apparently it had something to do with kidneys
Numbers
one of 2 species in this genus in North America listed at
All-LepsSize
wingspan about 14 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
Identification
Adult: forewing dark brownish-gray with white reniform spot, noticeably curved or bent in middle; AM line pale, scalloped, indistinct; PM line pale, indistinct, curving around reniform spot and terminating in small wedge at costa; hindwing dark brownish-gray with irregular white markings and diffuse shading in basal half and along inner margin
Range
eastern United States and Ontario; type specimen collected in Dallas, Texas
See Also
Nephrogramma separata forewing is paler, usually has the large white spot on the forewing divided in two, and is restricted to western United States (according to information from John Nelson via Mark Dreiling on
this page); as of July 2008 the only record of
separata found on the Internet was from
Arizona Internet References
pinned adult image and photos of related species by Jim Vargo (Moth Photographers Group)
presence in Texas; list (James Gillaspy, U. of Texas)
presence in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)