I viewed the images at microleps.org; these images are also shown at the Moth Photographers Group website where I first observed them. It was the middle specimen of Fig. 7 , at the microleps.org page, that led me to think it might be in Genus Blastobasis. However the writer there mentions that "Color pattern in Blastobasidae is not diagnostic" - so perhaps I should move this back to tribe level "Blastobasini". What do you think?

Your instincts are supported by Terry Harison's comments on your image here in which he notes as follows: "...moth appears to have been already dead when photographed, which allows the possibility that the palpi are broken off; coloration indicates not Pigritia, and it looks as though there might be a notch at base of antenna..."

I have just posted another specimen just like the one on this page; linked below:


Perhaps the jury is still out! :)

I have received the DNA results from BOLD Systems for this specimen. It is a 100% match for four specimens (plus two at 99.85%) in the genus Blastobasis. The six matched specimens are all named Blastobasis NA2. I am not sure what the "NA2" represents.

Some BOLD links don't work properly at least not on my mac. Can you add the the specimen number?

When BOLD Systems updated this (thumbnail) specimen from Blastobasis NA2 to Pigritia fidella These links were removed from the data base at BOLD Systems, and thus no longe work. Specimen number is JMMMB015-11.

The primary specimen on this page Photo#401747 was not sent to BOLD; but is most likely Pigritia fidella also.

... I was referring to the part that says "... Among genera occurring in Illinois, Pigritia can be recognized by its markedly reduced labial palpi (Fig. 2)..." If I understand correctly, your image as all the rest in the images of Blastobasinae, which lack visible labial palpi, should probably be placed in Pigritia. Everything else should be placed in family or tribe unless there is something very obvious that might indicate a genus or species.

That said, moving to tribe for this one might make the most sense until someone sorts this all out better.