Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Patania silicalis (Guenée, 1854)
Pleuroptya silicalis (Guenée, 1854)
Botys silicalis Guenée, 1854
Botys cypraealis Walker, 1859
Condylorrhiza sublutalis Druce, 1895
Hapalia sublutalis Warren, 1889
Sylepta penumbralis Grote, 1877
* Phylogenetic sequence #156575.
Numbers
The only species in this genus in North America
Identification
Adult: forewing yellowish-gray to orangish with dark gray AM and PM lines; AM line slightly ragged but almost straight; PM line toothed, with deep right-angled jog toward base in lower half; discal spot a dark gray crescent, sometimes faint; hindwing has similar color and markings but lacks AM line.
Genitalia:
Range
Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and New York, south to Florida.
Also occurs south through Central and South America to Brazil.
Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Season
Adults fly in summer in North America.
Food
Larvae have been collected and reared on Convolvulaceae (
Ipomoea batatas, Ipomoea setifera, Merremia umbellata), and
Rivinia humilis, according to this
reference (Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 52(2), 1998, 217-219).
also reported on
Bougainvillea species in South America
See Also
Obscure Psara (
Psara obscuralis) forewing PM line is situated closer to outer margin and is more deeply toothed than in
Pleuroptya (compare images of
Pleuroptya and
Psara by John Snyder at Furman U.)
Print References
Druce, H. 1895: Insecta. Lepidoptera-Heterocera. Pp. vol. 2 (1891–1900): 1–622; vol. 3 (1881–1900): 211, pl. 60 fig. 26. – In: Godman, F. D. & O. Salvin, Biologia Centrali-Americana 2 (text), 3 (plates). – Taylor & Francis, London.
Guenée, M. A. 1854: Deltoïdes et Pyralites. Pp. 349. – In: Boisduval, J. B. A. D. de & M. A. Guenée, Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères 8 8. – Roret, Paris.
Munroe, E. G. 1983: Pyralidae (except Crambinae). Pp. 74, 174. – In: Hodges, R. W. et al., Check List of the Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico including Greenland. – E. W. Classey Ltd. and the Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, London.
Walker, F. 1859 c: Pyralides. – List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, London 18: 596-97.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
pinned adult image (John Snyder, Clemson University, South Carolina)
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - collection map and photos of pinned adults.
presence in Missouri and Ohio; list under synonym
penumbralis (Dalton State College, Georgia)
presence in Florida; list (John Heppner, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)
