Species Alberada parabates - Hodges#5974

5974

Alberada parabates (Dyar, 1913) (1)

Melitara parabates Dyar, 1913 (2)

Phylogenetic sequence #800598.00

Specific epithet possibly from Greek παραβάτης meaning "a transgressor, a lawbreaker."

Dyar (1913) listed a wingspan of 39 mm. (2)

Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 18-23 mm. (3)

Forewing generally gray to fuscous, usually with light dusting of white in costal area; AM/PM lines strongly dentate. The key to species for Alberada in MONA Fascicle 15-4 separates A. parabates and A. californiensis from A. franclemonti on the latter having more contrastingly marked forewing with distinct dark smudge in medial area and only moderately dentate PM line. According to the key, parabates and californiensis have less forewing contrast, PM line strongly dentate and are without distinct dark smudge in medial area. However, images of both parabates and californiensis in Plate 3 of the fascicle clearly have dark smudges in the medial area, although not appearing as prominent as those of franclemonti. (4)

Dyar (1913) has original description as Melitara parabates. (2)

Mann (1969) describes larva. (5)

Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). (6)

Western Texas to southern California, Utah and Colorado. (4), (7), (5), (3)

May to August (4)

tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata) - Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. (5)

jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida) - Arizona. (5)

Whipple cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei) - Utah. (5)

coastal cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera) - California. (5)

Eggs laid singly or in an irregular mass of two or three, sometimes five, on cactus spines. Larvae tunnel into terminal segments of cactus and may cause a slight yellowing and swelling but are hard to detect. Larvae tunnel out and pupate underground in a robust cocoon. Pupae are heavily parisitized by tachnid flies and ichnuemon wasps. (5)

Dyar, H.G., 1913. Descriptions of new Lepidoptera, chiefly from Mexico. Proceedings of The United States National Museum 44: 322. (2)

Heinrich, C., 1939. Cactus-feeding Phycitinae: A contribution toward a revision of the American Pyralidoid moths of the family Phycitidae. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 86(3053): 350. (1)

Heinrich, C., 1956. American moths of the subfamily Phycitinae. United States National Museum Bulletin 207: 244. (7)

Mann, J., 1969. Cactus-feeding Insects and Mites. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 256: 42. (5)

University of California, Berkeley

Moth Photographers Group (8) - species page

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (6)