Species Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7

8271.7

Uranophora leucotelus (Butler, 1876)

Napata leucotelus Butler, 1876

"The correct genus usage is Uranophora; this dates back to Hampson’s (1898) catalogue, and I’m not aware of any recent revisionary work on either genus. Basically, Hampson included the type-species of both genera under Napata, but Uranophora is actually the older name, so he should have listed everything as Uranophora – an oversight on Hampson’s part that has been repeated in some historical literature." - Chris Schmidt (pers. comm. - 5/52017)

The only species of Uranophora recorded in America north of Mexico.

Wingspan 26 mm. 410.

First United States (Texas) record!

Determined by Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey)

Charles Bordelon (Texas Lepidoptera Survey)

Photographed by Rick Nirschl on January 6, 2013 in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA

at the National Butterfly Garden.

Adult: 410.

Probocis is well developed.

Black forewing with some metallic blue at base.

Forewing with prominent hyaline streaks and white patch at apex.

Hindwing has some greyish shading along costa.

Head and thorax with brilliant metallic blue.

Abdomen has brilliant blue at base and on the sides with a greenish dorsal line.

First five ventral abdominal segements of ♂ have white patches; ♀ lack the patches.

southmost TX to Brazil 410 (New US Record)

Larval host unknown. Adults take nectar.

Melanchroia chephise

Compare to related species on the pinned plates of Moth Photographers Group.

Hampson, 1898. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum, Volume 1, p. 411 (read online)

Butler, A. G. 1865. On the subfamilies Antichlorinae and Charideinae of the lepidopterous families Zygaenidae and Arctiidae. The Journal of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology. 12: 409.

Moths of Costa Rica, Heiner Ziegler