Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Monopis monachella (Hübner, 1796)
Blabophanes monachella Hübner, 1796
Monopis monacha Zagulajev, 1972
Numbers
Ten Monopis species are found in America north of Mexico.
Size
5 to 8 mm long. Wingspan:12-20 mm.
Identification
Head: Head white. Palpi long, folded; dark.
Antenna: Dark brown.
Thorax: White.
Wings: Wider, dark brown; slightly gray-scaled. Large white patch on costa has diagonal edge; extends from mid wing to near tip. Diagonal edge of patch encompasses the semi-translucent circle, typical of all Monopis. Some white scaling on inner margin near wing tip (anal angle). Hindwings gray.
Legs: White ringed with brown.
Monopis longella (Walker, 1863) has a stained patch inside the white patch along the costa edge.
Range
Northeastern North America and throughout many regions of the world.
Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Type locality (monachella): Europe
Type locality (monacha): Indonesia
Season
Adults fly May through October.
(1); June to September in north.
Food
Larvae feed on animal remains, skins and owl pellets.
Remarks
According to Mr. Busck a specimen of this European species from Canada is in the U. S. National Museum, Smithsonian. A specimen without locality label and probably determined by Zeller is in the Cambridge Museum – MCZ assumed.
DNA barcoding supports the possibility that specimens found in the US and Canada identified as M. monachella may be an undescribed species. Monopis monachella is a member of the Monopis monachella species complex (see Huang et al. 2011) which is currently represented at BOLD by the following BIN groups (5/26/2019). The synonymy of M. monachella, (TL: Europe) and monacha (TL: Indonesia) may be in question. It would seem that a revision of this complex may be needed:
BOLD:ACD6617 =
Monopis iunctio (China and Indonesia)
BOLD:ACZ5670 = possible undescribed
Monopis species from Africa near
M. iunctio
BOLD:ACS7044 = possible undescribed
Monopis species from Madagascar near
M. longella (=
pavlovskii)
BOLD:AAK6590 = possible undescribed
Monopis species from Australia near
M. longella
BOLD:AAP6065 = possible undescribed
Monopis species from China and Australia near
M. longella (lacks dark smudge in pale spot of forewing)
BOLD:AAE4730 =
Monopis longella (Asia and North America)
BOLD:AAB1740 =
Monopis monachella (Euope only)
BOLD:AAB1739 = possible undescribed
Monopis species from North America near
M. monachella See Also
Monopis longella -Yellow-headed Monopis Moth
Print References
Huang, G.H., L.S. Chen, T. Hirowatari, Y. Nasu, M. Wang, 2011. A revision of the Monopis monachella species complex (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) from China. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 63(1):
1–14.
Internet References
Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 1905, Vol. 31: American Lepidoptera by William G. Dietz, pp. 31-33.
Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1923, Memoir #68: Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States.
