Heliodinidae, possibly Neoheliodines vernius? - Neoheliodines vernius - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#343863

Copyright © 2009 Lynn Monroe

Heliodinidae, possibly Neoheliodines vernius? - Neoheliodines vernius

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
March 29, 2003
Size: tiny, FW~5mm or less

We found this tiny moth in Sentenac Canyon on Wishbone Plant (Mirabilis bigelovii), family Nyctaginaceae, Four-o'clocks. If it is genus Neoheliodines, it is probably N. vernius based on distribution and known/suspected host plants. However, I can not tell if it is this genus or possibly the very similar Embola?

Images of this individual: tag all

Heliodinidae, possibly Neoheliodines vernius? - Neoheliodines vernius

Heliodinidae, possibly Neoheliodines vernius? - Neoheliodines vernius

Contributed by Lynn Monroe on 17 October, 2009 - 12:05pm
Last updated 19 November, 2010 - 3:53pm

Moved

Moved from Neoheliodines.

… Charley Eiseman, 19 November, 2010 - 3:54pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request. Is the ID sure enough to make a species page?

… John F. Carr, 18 October, 2009 - 9:22pm

N. vernius

I agree that Neoheliodines vernius is the most likely option here.

… Terry Harrison, 18 October, 2009 - 11:57am

N. vernius

Again, thanks for the ID. It's really appreciated!

I wish I could go to your link for the Hsu and Powell revision, but its 211 pages exceeds the limits of my dial-up. May I ask you a question? I notice that the new Powell and Opler book include Embola powelli that occurs in southern CA as well as other southern locales. Is it possible to tell N. vernius and E. powelli apart from a photo?

… Lynn Monroe, 18 October, 2009 - 6:01pm

See the Probable (very close to) Embola powelli here

… Bob Patterson, 19 October, 2009 - 11:49pm

Thanks for this photo

I appreciate your finding this image and sending to me. It's quite different from N. vernius. So many of the Neoheliodines and Embolas are real lookalikes.

… Lynn Monroe, 20 October, 2009 - 8:07am

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