Other Common Names
Sometimes referred to as an Acorn Moth, which conflicts with the name more commonly used for
Blastobasis glandulellaSynonyms and other taxonomic changes
Myelopsis subtetricella (Ragonot, 1889)
Myelois subtetricella Ragonot, 1889
Myelois obnupsella Hulst, 1890
(1)
Myelois zonulella Ragonot, 1889
* Phylogenetic sequence #800205.
Explanation of Names
'sub' is Latin for "under", "below" or "beneath". 'tetricella' is after Myelois tetricella (or Myelopsis tetricella or Episcythrastis tetricella), a European moth first described in 1775.
Latin: tetricella = tetri (stinking) + cella (cell, room)
Numbers
Four Myelopsis species are found in America north of Mexico.
Identification
Original description:
"19 — 22 mm. Fore wings elongate, oval, very narrow at base, strongly rounded on costa, dark gray, much suffused with brownish, glossy, first line broad, oblique, straight, gray, indistinct, edged outwardly by a shadowy blackish line, second line hardly perceptible, oblique, straight, very narrow, hardly paler than ground color. A dark spot, hardly distinct on disk. Hind wings transparent whitish, smoked on margin. Very near to tetricella."
Range
Eastern Colorado north to southern Alberta and east to Nova Scotia.
(2)
From Canada through the US, as far south as Southern California and Florida. (dubious - no citation)
Moth Photographers Group – distribution & flight-period chart
Food
Have been reported feeding on acorns.
Remarks
Neunzig (1990) gives the range for this species as no further west than southern Alberta, Nebraska and Colorado. He shows 2 adult images, both very lightly marked as in Tom Murray's MA specimens. The very heavily marked individuals on BG are from CA which doesn't fit the range of subtetricella; I suspect these CA species are not subtetricella. - comment by A.W. Thomas
As of 3/23/2020, some barcoded specimens at BOLD appear to refer to
Laetilia zamacrella. See comments
here. The rest may represent a species an unknown species as they are all from locations west of the Rockies. - Steve Nanz
See Also
Laetilia zamacrella is found in California. Specimens have apparently been misidentified as
Myelopsis subtetricella.
Print References
Neunzig, 1990. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 15.3: 35; pl. 1.15-16.
(2)
Ragonot, E. L. 1889. Pycitidae and Galleriidae of North America. Some new species and a general catalogue. Entomologica Americana. 5(6):
113.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - collection map and photos of pinned adults.
Entomologica Americana 1889, p.113 Original description of the species.
