Species Usingeriessa brunnildalis - Hodges#4768

4768

Usingeriessa brunnildalis (Dyar, 1906)

Elophila brunnildalis Dyar, 1906

There are two named species of Usingeriessa in America north of Mexico. (1), (2)

Forewing length 7.5-11 mm.(3)

Original description online: (Elophila brunnildalis) (91) This species is very similar to Usingeriessa onyxalis, differing mainly by the indistinct apical patch on the FW, not contrasting much with the dusky terminal band; the HW is generally clouded with dusky scaling, without the contrasting dark basal and pale medial areas seen in U. onyxalis.(4) [NOTE: The barcoded specimens currently labeled as onyxalis (mostly from Costa Rica) seem to match the original description of brunnildalis. Further research is needed to clarify which is which.]

Central and southern California, Arizona*, and western Texas**.(3)(5)(6)

Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.

* While both Usinger(6) and Munroe(3) include Arizona in the range description, no specimen records are recited. No online data have been found to confirm that part of the range.

Normally associated with permanent streams where the larvae live on alga covered rocks.(3)

Most records for adults are from August to October. (2)

Confusion with Usingeriessa onyxalis, particularly in Texas records, is common. Moreover, (1) to date, BOLD has not barcoded any examples for brunnildalis; (2) the single image on MPG from Presidio Co., TX, appears to be a worn example of U. onyxalis, and (3) even this California example of brunnildalis appears very similar to Texas onyxalis. More images, specimens, and genetic work are needed to determine how to separate these species, if they are distinct at all.

Usingeriessa onyxalis

On U. onyxalis, the whitish PM band on the FW is much more heavily infused with brown, the terminal orange band is essentially the same width as the subterminal white band, the PM area of the HW is heavily suffused with brown nearly out to the edge of the submarginal eyespots, and the middle of the PM area has a dusky-filled orange oval (rather than a white-filled dusky loop).

Dyar, Harrison G. 1906. The North American Nymphulinae and Scopariinae. Journal of the New York Entomological Society Vol. 14, No. 2, p. (91)

Lange, W.H. 1956. Aquatic insects of California p. (284)

Munroe, E. 1972a. The Moths of North America North of Mexico. Fascicle 13.1A. Scopariinae, Nymphulinae. The Wedge Ent. Res. Found.(4)

Munroe, E. 1972c. The Moths of North America North of Mexico. Fascicle 13.1C. Evargestinae. + plates. The Wedge Ent. Res. Found.(7)

Powell, J. A., and P. A. Opler. 2009. Moths of Western North America. pl. 23.52; p. 181.(3)

University of California, Berkeley