Moth, South Florida - Sisyracera inabsconsalis

Note the name change

Landry (2016) synonymized Sisyracera contortilinealis (Hampson, 1895) with S. inabsconsalis (Möschler, 1890). See remarks under the species page for a link to the paper.

… Kyhl Austin, 18 December, 2016 - 11:41pm

Moved

Moved from Sisyracera.

… Maury J. Heiman, 3 April, 2014 - 3:01pm

Might this be the Sisyracera caterpillar?

About a meter from where I found the adult moth I found this caterpillar today. A small lizard had partially extracted it from its web on a Marlberry tree (Ardesia escallonioides). I removed the caterpillar and part of its web from the tree and brought it into the house. Four hours on it appears not to have survived the lizard (or my "rescue"). There should be three images of the caterpillar added to the original adult moth image. The ruler is indexed in millimeters.

… bandb, 29 December, 2012 - 10:20pm

In the future ...

Do Not add an different specimen to one that has already been ID'd. Thank you

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 29 December, 2012 - 10:44pm

Sisyracera Moth

Moved from Moths.

Mark de Silva's ID is tentative, as the specimen has never been verified. It is probably a newly named species, as it's not listed on Hodges 1983. Someone with access to papers on neotropical species will need to further research. Thanks for the heads up, William.
Robert

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 12:21pm

A Puerto Rican?

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/AC-PR/ACPR02.1.shtml

Sisyracera contortilinealis perhaps?

"If it's got wings, all bets are off."

… William Donald Newton, 28 December, 2012 - 9:56am

How did you find this page?

William,
MPG revised the site over a year ago. I didn't know there were any SHTML sheets that could still be accessed. Most show as a broken link. This is the page I finally located it on. Thanks for your help. BTW all bets aren't off ... you still owe me a Varsity :)
Robert

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 12:45pm

I, in a rare Eureka moment, ...

... tho't there must be a connection between a Florida moth and Cuba. I searched "Pyraustinae of Cuba" and came upon reference to moths of Puerto Rico. I clicked into that site and, ta daa, found the animal. Among other things, hot air produces hurricanes and other winds, and doubtless disperse these animals across the region. Another possibility is introduction through commerce. I like the hurricane scenario. ;)

Cheers,
Don

PS I defer to the Florida expert: Sisyracera inabsconsalis. But I'll be patient.

… William Donald Newton, 28 December, 2012 - 7:20pm

Dr. Hayden

I emailed Dr. Hayden for some photos and technical papers on these moths. Also, notice that Sisyracera subulalis has been seen in south-most Texas and Florida during September & October ... hurricane season :)

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 8:30pm

hot air dispersal -- Off Topic

The North Atlantic Trade Winds tend to carry "stuff" westward from the Antilles toward the mainland. We like that.

Thirty-six years working with hurricanes and neither I nor my professional colleagues ever liked that method of dispersal. It's TOO efficient: houses, cars, people---you name it, a hurricane will disperse it. Most often bit by bit.

… bandb, 28 December, 2012 - 7:43pm

Professional colleagues?

B&B,
Would you please take a few minutes to add some info on your account page about your experience? It’s always a big help to editors, knowing a contributor's background. Thank you.
Robert

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 8:38pm

Background info added

Please let me know if the info I just added will be of any use.

… bandb, 28 December, 2012 - 9:20pm

Great

No wonder you know about hurricanes. We've had some bad tornadoes in Mobile this past week. Fortunately, the Zimlich Zone survived unscathed.
Z

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 9:34pm

between tornadoes and hurricanes....

...I'd rather have hurricanes. There is some prep time with hurricanes and the top wind speeds are not as high.

I watched that nasty weather you got last week. I'm pleased to read that you were not impacted.

… bandb, 28 December, 2012 - 10:00pm

Bingo!

Thanks, Bill. I need to research to create a guide page. There is some controversy as to its placement.
Robert

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 10:11am

You are quite welcome, sir.

I go by "Don".

I searched the web under "moths of Cuba" and found the reference cited.

Cheers,
Don

… William Donald Newton, 28 December, 2012 - 10:18am

Moved for Expert ID

Moved from ID Request.

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 9:50am

No match in the specimen photos - yet.

Thanks for the suggestions for I.D. I've trawled without success through the BugGuide specimen photos (including Anageshna) for a match. None seems to have this amount of wing patterning, including the "Wylie E. Coyote" pattern from the middle of the abdomen to the tail.

… bandb, 27 December, 2012 - 11:41pm

Florida Moth Expert

A moth expert in Florida sends this note:

"I can get it to Pyralidae but not much further. "

She works at The Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She is checking with her colleagues.

… bandb, 28 December, 2012 - 9:10am

Moth I.D.'d by State of Florida expert--Sisyracera inabsconsalis

Here is the info abstracted from an email just received:

Wow. That moth is Sisyracera inabsconsalis (Möschler) or something close (Crambidae: Spilomelinae). We have one good specimen from the FL Keys, and another something that [was] recently sent from Key West....

This genus is yet another case where the identity is doubtful (there are multiple Caribbean species), the FSCA has only one or two specimens of variable quality....

FYI, its host plants are unknown.

Thanks!
Jim

---
James E. Hayden, Ph.D.
Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Lepidoptera
Division of Plant Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

… bandb, 28 December, 2012 - 10:12am

Thanks

bandb (sounds like Benedictine and Brandy),
I'll contact Dr. Hayden to see if I can get more information on the species for the guide page. This is a very confusing genus, as I explained on guide pages.
Robert

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 28 December, 2012 - 12:55pm

Wish I knew ...

I do not recognize this moth, but it has a Pyraustinae-look about, possibly in Spilomelini tribe?

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 27 December, 2012 - 6:34pm

Beautiful!

...

… Lisa Dolliver, 27 December, 2012 - 12:19pm

:-)

It looks like it's doing exercises with it's "arms" out front. I've never seen a moth do that.

… jross12, 27 December, 2012 - 11:02pm

Spilomelini will often stretch out like that

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 27 December, 2012 - 11:22pm