Species Aristotelia corallina - Aristotelia corallina complex - Hodges#1733.1

1733.1

Aristotelia corallina Walsingham, 1909 (1)

Phylogenetic sequence #420647.00

Aristotelia corallina Walsingham, 1909 is recognized within the North American fauna in Kimball (1965) and Lee et al. (2009). However, "true" corallina from north of Mexico is unverified. "A. corallina" is treated as a species complex in Baer (2018), J. Lepdid. Soc, 72(1):44-52. The many specimens from north of Mexico identified as "corallina" at BOLD (12/8/2020) appear to represent several cryptic species. It is unclear which, if any, refer to "true" corallina.

Specific epithet from coralline, described as "a pale pinkish red [salmon]" in Smith's entomological terms, for the distinctive "rosy cream" features of the moth. (2), (1) The term likely originates from coralline algae, red algae in the order Corallinales.

39 spp. north of Mexico.

Wingspan 12 mm. (1)

Larva to 10-12 mm (Janzen, 1967).

Larva - anterior body ringed in black and white, posterior striped in black and white (Janzen, 1967).

Records from Arizona to Florida, north to southern Indiana and Oklahoma. (3), (1)

Type locality: Mexico, Geurrero, Amula 6000ft'.

Year round in Florida (MPG). Larvae and adults were present year round in Mexico, but most common in the dry season, as larvae were adversely impacted by rain (Janzen, 1967).

Known hosts are in the pea family (Fabaceae). Janzen reported the larvae as very common nocturnal feeders on the shoot tips and young leaves of bullhorn wattle (Acacia cornigera), in our area limited to Florida (Janzen, 1967; 364). HOSTS lists the food plants as sweet acacia (Acacia farnesiana), which is present throughout the southern United States, and sensitive partridge pea (Chamaecrista nictitans), present from Texas to Florida. (4)

Construct larval webs near the tips of the host plant (Janzen, 1967).

These were very common spring visitors (Mar-May) at my lights in Tucson. [Randy Hardy]

Baer, C.S., 2018. Shelter Building and Extrafloral Nectar Exploitation by a Member of the Aristotelia corallina Species Complex (Gelechiidae) on Costa Rican Acacias. The Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 72(1): 44-52.

Janzen, D. H. 1967. Interaction of the bull's-horn acacia (Acacia cornigera L.) with an ant inhabitant (Pseudomyrmex ferruginea F. Smith) in eastern Mexico. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 47(6): 315-558.

Walsingham, Lord. 1909-1915. Tineina, Pterophorina,Orneodina, Pyralidina and Hepialina (part). Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta. Lepidoptera-Heterocera 4: 23. (1)

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