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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » American Silkworm Moths (Apatelodidae) » Apatelodinae » Olceclostera » The Seraph - Hodges#7667 (Olceclostera seraphica)

Species Olceclostera seraphica - The Seraph - Hodges#7667

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Olceclostera seraphica (Dyar) - Olceclostera seraphica - female Gray Moths Mating - Olceclostera seraphica Gray Moths Mating - Olceclostera seraphica The Seraph - Hodges #7667 - Olceclostera seraphica - female Seraph Moth? - Olceclostera seraphica The Seraph - Hodges #7667 - Olceclostera seraphica Olceclostera seraphica Olceclostera seraphica - female
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Apatelodidae (American Silkworm Moths)
Subfamily Apatelodinae
Genus Olceclostera
Species seraphica (The Seraph - Hodges#7667)
Hodges Number
7667
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Olceclostera seraphica (Dyar, 1906)
First described in 1906 by Harrison Gray Dyar, Jr. as Apatelodes seraphica
Phylogenetic sequence # 223200
Explanation of Names
Seraphica is Latin for "of or like a seraph" (a seraph is a type of angel). In the original description, Dyar mentions that it was "Nearly allied to angelica Grote", so the name is no doubt a reference to that species.
Numbers
One of three species in the genus north of Mexico.
Size
Forewing length 20-25 mm.(1)
Identification
Where the two species overlap in eastern Texas a view of the ventral of the hindwing is needed
Range
se AZ to s. TX - Map (1),(2)
Season
Powell & Opler (2009) reported a single brood with adults flying from mid July to August.(1)
There are records of adults from February to October.
Food
Larvae have been noted feeding on Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) and certain Ash species (Fraxinus greggii, F. pennsylvanica)
Life Cycle
Unreported. (1)
Remarks
"the moth Olceclostera seraphica has genitals that resemble a musical instrument: the male rubs one part of his privates against another, producing vibrations with which to thrill his mate."
Described from specimens from Brownsville, Texas
See Also
Olceclostera angelica
Olceclostera indistincta
Print References
Dyar, H.G. 1906. Brooklyn Museum Science Bulletin, 1: 197.
Franclemont, J.G., 1973. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 20.1: p. 22; pl. 3.16, 11.2-3. (3)
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America; page 236, plate 35.7 ♂, 35.8 ♀.(1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - MPG
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)
Bob Barber's New Mexico nature photos (larva + adult)
wikipedia article
Works Cited
1.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
2.Caterpillars of Eastern North America
David L. Wagner. 2005. Princeton University Press.
3.The Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 20.1. Mimallonoidea (Mimallonidae) and Bombycoidea.....
J. G. Franclemont. 1973. E.W. Classey Ltd. & R.B.D. Publications Inc.
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose on 21 June, 2009 - 9:10am
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Maury Heiman
Last updated 1 December, 2017 - 5:11pm

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