Species Lipocosma polingi - Hodges#4887

4887

Lipocosma polingi Munroe, 1972

Named in honor of ornithologist and entomologist Otho C. Poling (1879-1929) of Quincy, Illinois. Poling collected throughout the mountains and deserts of the American southwest, including California, southern Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas and Utah in two distinct periods (1900-1906 and 1922-1929). Many of his specimens were described by William Barnes and he had fourteen species of moths named for him. (1)

There are seven named species of Lipocosma in America north of Mexico. (2)

Forewing length about 6 mm.

Originally thought to be restricted to the Baboquivari Mountains of southern Arizona.(1)(3)

Alma Solis recently studied a population of unknown Lipocosma from central and southern Texas which she determined were also Lipocosma polingi.

Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.

Adults fly May through October.

Larval host is unknown but possibly oak.

Moth Photographers Group - related species for comparison.

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America, p. 172, pl. 22.9 (1)

Munroe, E.G. 1972. The Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 13: 241.(3)

Moth Photographers Group