Species Sthenopis pretiosus - Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · See Also · Print References · Internet References

Sthenopis auratus - Somerset Lake - Hancock, NY - Sthenopis pretiosus

Sthenopis pretiosus #0022 - Sthenopis pretiosus

Sthenopis pretiosus-Female - Sthenopis pretiosus - 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 Hepialoidea (Ghost Moths)

Family Hepialidae (Ghost Moths)

Genus Sthenopis

Species pretiosus (Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022)

Hodges Number

0022

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Previously Sthenopis auratus (Grote, 1878), synonymized with S. pretiosus (Herrich-Schaffer, [1856]) in C. Mielke & Grehan (2015).

Size

wingspan 60-70 mm

Identification

forewing yellowish-brown with 3 small gold spots in subterminal area, a larger single spot in the medial area, and 3 more small gold spots forming an antemedial (AM) line near the base; PM line represented by an indistinct whitish, pinkish, or silvery band overlaid with small angular patches; top of head and thorax dark gray to blackish

hindwing light yellowish-orange and unmarked

Range

northeastern United States and southeastern Canada

See Also

other Sthenopis species are larger and lack the distinctive pattern of gold spots on the forewing

Print References

Mielke CG, Grehan JR (2015) Description of a new species of Phassus Walker, 1856 from Costa Rica, Pallas, gen. n., with a new species from Guatemala, and taxonomic notes on Sthenopis Packard, [1865] (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae). Thee European Entomologist 7(4): 113–134.

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

live adult image (Al Sinclair, Ontario)

pinned adult images of male and female [by James Adams] and live mating pair [by Dave Wagner] (Dalton State College, Georgia)

pinned adult image (Canadian Forest Service)

pinned adult image (Barbara Strnadova, New York)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 16 October, 2005 - 7:32pm
Additional contributions by Tony-2, anitagould, Ron M., Ryan St Laurent, Kyhl Austin, Steve Morris
Last updated 17 July, 2024 - 9:49am

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