Moth IMG_5554 - Exoteleia pinifoliella

Moved

Moved from chillcotti or pinifoliella.

… john and jane balaban, 30 May, 2015 - 5:17pm

Moved

Moved from Exoteleia.

… john and jane balaban, 30 May, 2015 - 5:15pm

Moved

Moved from Exoteleia chillcotti.

… Steve Nanz, 26 December, 2014 - 2:04pm

Moved

Moved from Exoteleia.

… Steve Nanz, 9 November, 2011 - 3:08am

See 1799 - Coleotechnites chilcotti at MPG.

Exoteleia pinifoliella (and group) are also in the ballpark. I'll show it at 1799 at MPG along with Nolie's very similar moth (dark basal/head area). The one from my yard in Maryland is not as dark. We all have to keep in mind that, in Gelechiidae, without genitalia or dna to back us up we are almost always dealing with "best estimates."

By the way, Powell's discussion of possible host species in California includes Pinus species that range to 7,000 feet in the Sierras. It would be an interesting project for someone to sample the moths at Christmas tree farms in the east to document the western species that have been introduced eastward in nursery stock and no one has any idea about them being here.

But it is much more logical to guess that this is an eastern species.

… Bob Patterson, 8 November, 2011 - 5:16am

Moved

Moved from Exoteleia burkei.

… Steve Nanz, 8 November, 2011 - 3:02am

known range

Did SangMi Lee identify this? There are several similar species and range can be useful in determining these. Please add more information to the species page.
Thanks

… Maury J. Heiman, 7 November, 2011 - 9:11am

Tentative ID

I edited my original comment to make this more clear.

SangMi Lee did not ID it. I submitted it to Bob Patterson as being possibly Exoteleia burkei. We both know there are similar species but he agreed that this looked most likely. I don't know if Bob intends to forward it to Dr. Lee before posting on MPG. I would assume that is likely that Dr. Lee would need to see the specimen whic I did not collect.

I created the species page and placed the image there as a tentative ID because Bob would be placing this on the species page at MPG. (I assume he will be doing that as that is typically what he does when I send him a usable image that he agrees with.)

If you prefer that I move it, let me know.

… Steve Nanz, 7 November, 2011 - 10:07am

Exoteleia burkei is known from California

Exoteleia burkei is known from California and is associated with Pinus radiata and attenuata which grow in moderate California climates. It is possible from Christmas tree farms in the South.

… Maury J. Heiman, 7 November, 2011 - 11:05am

Exoteleia pinifoliella?

Thanks for the follow up. I should have looked that up myself.

I checked BOLD and found an example of Exoteleia pinifoliella that matches well. The examples of this species is placed on six pages with one of the pages titled "Exoteleia pinifoliella cmpx." so I'm guessing it's not exactly worked out yet.

Anyway, I moved it to genus. Again, if there is a more appropriate place for this one, let me know. Thanks again.

… Steve Nanz, 8 November, 2011 - 3:23am

Since the spread Exoteleia ch

Since the spread Exoteleia chillcotti on MPG by Sangmi Lee is likely to be correctly identified, I'm wondering how significant the distinct white patch and black spots in the terminal area are? Most of the live moths identified as E. chillcotti on MPG and BG do not show these marks. Are they really Exoteleia pinifoliella? I wish I could answer that. :)

… Ken Childs, 26 December, 2014 - 8:59am

I don't l know

and I was never very satisfied with this. I'm moving it to genus.

… Steve Nanz, 26 December, 2014 - 2:06pm