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Species Desmia funeralis - Grape Leaffolder - Hodges#5159

A Pyralid sp. - Desmia funeralis Hodges #5159 - Grape Leaffolder - Desmia funeralis Desmia funeralis? (wingspan was 29 mm)  - Desmia funeralis Hodges #5159 - Grape Leaffolder Moth - Desmia funeralis - female Texas SE Gulf Coast - Desmia funeralis - female Grape Leaffolder Moth, Desmia funeralis ? - Desmia funeralis Grape Leaffolder - Desmia funeralis Desmia funeralis - male
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 Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
Subfamily Spilomelinae
Tribe Nomophilini
Genus Desmia
Species funeralis (Grape Leaffolder - Hodges#5159)
Hodges Number
5159
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Desmia funeralis Hübner, 1796
Pyralis funeralis (Hübner, 1796)
Size
Males: Live wingspan 24mm - 30mm
Females: Live wingspan 22mm - 26mm
Identification
From Brian Scholtens:
"The character that I use is the extent of the white patch on the underside of the abdomen. D. funeralis individuals have a solid white patch on the underside of the abdomen on segments 1-5 (or may have a slight break on segment 3). D. maculalis individuals have a broken white patch, where about 1/2 of segments 3 and 4 are clearly dark. Basically, maculalis looks striped on the underside, whereas funeralis looks like it is basically solid white."

There is considerable size overlap between male Desmia maculalis and female D. funeralis so it is necessary to sex the moth to be able to identify the species. Fortunately, sexing the 2 species is relatively easy.
Males of D. funeralis and D. maculalis have a distinct notch or joint at about the mid-point of each antenna. The hindwing spot on the females of both species is pinched in the middle and on rare occasions may be divided into 2 smaller spots.

To add your record to this page, you must provide:
1. a dorsal photo that clearly shows the antennae or the spot on the hindwing so the moth can be sexed.
2. a ventral photo clearly showing the markings on the abdomen. The moth does not have to be killed or chilled to get a photo of the underside. A jar with flat sides works great for this purpose and also makes it easy to get accurate measurements.
3. an accurate measurement of the wingspan.

Records that do not meet these 3 requirements should go in the Desmia funeralis/maculalis group location. Of course specimens identified through DNA barcoding do not need a photo of the underside or wingspan measurements to be added to this page.

Photo of the underside showing the mostly white abdomen.


An example of one with a break on segment 3 of the abdomen.

Range
most of the United States including the South West north to British Columbia.(1)
Season
adults fly April to October with several broods per season
Food
larval host is grape sp and Virginia creeper. Ludwigia alternifolia (T.Feldman)
Life Cycle
Overwinters as pupa inside the larval tube.(2)
Two generation per year in the south.(2)
Remarks
adults are diurnal
See Also
Print References
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, Moths of Western North America, Pl. 23.35f; p. 179.(1)
Works Cited
1.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
2.Eastern Forest Insects
Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.