Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Helcystogramma hystricella (Braun, 1921)
Brachmia hystricella Braun, 1921
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* phylogenetic sequence #069650
Explanation of Names
Specific name hystricella from the former generic name of the host plant Hystrix patula (=Elymus hystrix).
Identification
Adult - forewing slender with pointed apex; ground color whitish or pale gray with several dark stripes running length of wing; three dark spots arranged in a triangle in median area; top of thorax and inner margin of forewing near base shaded with brown; terminal line dark; fringe scales pale-based and dark-tipped. Hindwing uniformly whitish with long white fringe scales. See Braun's original description in Print References.
Genitalia:
Larva - see Braun's original description in Print References.
Range
Records from Minnesota to Pennsylvania, south to Maryland and Kentucky, west as far as Oklahoma and Kansas.
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Type locality: Cincinnati, Ohio.
(1)Food
Larvae are leaf rollers on grasses, including
eastern bottlebrush grass (
Elymus hystrix L., Poaceae).
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(6)Life Cycle
Larva overwinters in a rolled leaf on the host plant.
(1)See Also
Helcystogramma fernaldella and Helcystogramma melanocarpum are paler with indistinct streaking.
Print References
Beadle, D. & S. Leckie 2012. Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Houghton Mifflin. p.66-67 (
preview)
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Braun, A.F. 1921. Notes on Microlepidoptera with descriptions of new species. Entomological news, and proceedings of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 32(1):
11-12 (1)