Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#465054
  - Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella

- Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella
Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma, USA
October 14, 2010
Found at UV light near pond in wooded area of a flood plain

Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella
The species name for the BugGuide page was spelled ambrosiaefoliae following the spelling at BOLD. I found no species with that name. Based on the descriptions by Braun, 1963: 83 (1) and Chambers, 1875: 119. (2), I am assuming that this is Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella Chambers, 1875 and have corrected the species page. I will notify BOLD of the potential error.

Moved
Moved from Bucculatrix.

Wonderful addition.
BOLD has mirror image. Please correct the wrong one.

 
Unnecessary
All live photos on MPG face to the right. This one was presumably flipped that way so it could be used on that site. Although I personally never alter the orientation of photos I post to BugGuide, I see no reason to insist that other people refrain from flipping them.

 
Sigh ....

 
Well okay, there's a reason...
the problem is that the practice is so widespread that we should just assume the apparent orientation can never be trusted.

 
Orientation
I have been posing the captured moths in a lightbox. Photos are taken of each side and the best shot aligned to the right as instructed long ago by Bob Patterson. BOLD prefers them facing to the left.

 
Inversion
Did Bob explicitly say it was OK to invert the image?
The issue is not one of "orientation" or "alignment", but inversion. The BOLD image is an inverted (mirror) image relative to the BG one, as indicated by the scratch pattern on the substrate. Inverted images, IMO, should be identified as such, at least. Not all insects are perfectly symmetrical, especially in regard to mouthparts, genitalia, and wing fold patterns. It might cause confusion and even undue excitement in such cases.

Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliae
Now identified at BOLD as Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliae
0518 – Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella ??
The specimen is shown at BOLD:ABA1129

Moved
Moved from Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths.
Bucculatrix is the only genus in this family.

Moved
Moved from Bucculatrix.

DNA results
DNA barcoding supports this at the Bucculatricidae level, BOLD LPOKE385-11
This specimen is shown here: BOLD:ABA1129

Moved

Review of Bucculatrix ainsliella
Terry Harrison conducted an expert review of Bucculatrix ainsliella images on BugGuide at Bob Patterson's request. Terry's determination is that all current BG photos of this species should remain at genus level. Species level identification of B. ainsliella, as well as other Bucculatrix, is nearly impossible from photos alone. Dissection and/or DNA is needed.

Terry also concluded that this moth and the moths shown below are possibly related and represent an undetermined Bucculatrix species.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.