Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Ypsolopha dentella (Fabricius, 1775)
Orig. Comb:
Alucita dentella Fabricius, 1775
Placed by some authors in the family Plutellidae, or in the family Yponomeutidae (subfamily Plutellinae)
Explanation of Names
dentella (L). "little tooth"
Identification
top of head and thorax white; forewing reddish-brown except for whitish or pale yellowish strip along inner margin, and a spur projecting diagonally from the strip about two-thirds distance from base; tip of forewing hooked (in side view, the hooked tips project upward, giving a "duck-tailed" profile)
Range
New England to Upper Midwest -
Map - MPG (accidentally introduced from Europe some time ago)
common and widespread in Eurasia
Habitat
adults may be found near the host plant (honeysuckle) and are attracted to light
Season
adults fly from June to September
Food
larvae feed on leaves of honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
Remarks
Ypsolopha was placed in the family Ypsolophidae by Dugdale et al (1999) in Kristensen N.P. (editor) Lepidoptera: Moths and butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, systematics and biogeography. Handbook of Zoology. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin/New York.
Internet References
live adult images of
Y. dentella (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
classification of genus Ypsolopha in family Ypsolophidae (Brian Pitkin
et al, Butterflies & Moths of the World)
Systema Entomologia, p.667 Fabricius' original description of the species (in Latin)