Species Pseudotebenna carduiella - Hodges#2649

2649

Pseudotebenna carduiella (Kearfott, 1902)

Tebenna carduiella (Kearfott, 1902)

Choreutis carduiella Kearfott, 1902 (1)

Phylogenetic sequence #580026

Specific epithet from the former generic placement of the host plant, Carduus. (1)

WS reported as 10–13mm by Kearfott and 11.5–14mm by Heppner.

Often confused with Tebenna gnaphaliella, a similar species found throughout the range of P. carduiella. T. gnaphaliella is smaller (WS 7.4–10mm) than P. carduiella (WS 11.5–14mm).

Genitalia:

Coastal plain from Corpus Christi, TX to Block Island, RI; found throughout coastal states of the Southeast but probably limited to immediate coastline north of VA, where the species is known only from Cape May and Essex Cos., NJ (type series and other specimens coll. 1900–1905); Montauk, NY; and Block Island, RI.

Heppner reported a single record from northern IL but may not have been able to examine the specimen himself.(2)

TL: Anglesea, Cape May Co., NJ

The larvae feed on thistle (Cirsium), boring into the stems.(1)

See Kearfott (1907) in Print References for description of life cycle.(1)

Heppner, J.B., 2023. Nearctic Metalmark Moths, 7. Genus Tebenna and new genus Pseudotebenna (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae: Choreutinae). Lepidoptera Novae, 15(3-4): 121-172.(2)

Kearfott, W.D. 1902. A revision of the North American species of the genus Choreutis. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 10: 116 (1)