Pygmy Redectis - Redectis pygmaea

Moved

Moved from White-spotted Redectis. Thanks for the information Bob. The only thing I find troubling is that I did measure the wing chord here, and it was right at 9 mm, which is on the high side for Pygmy Redectis--see the image linked above. It sure looks like the others ID'd as such, however.

… Cotinis, 8 June, 2009 - 7:38pm

8400 - Redectis pygmaea

I received guidance today from Don Lafontaine regarding differentiating the two species of Redectis. Based on the overall coloration and orange reniform, this is R. pygmaea. Length of forewing is also a key character, with R. pygmaea 6.0-7.5 mm., and R. redectis 7.5 (rare) but usually 8.5-10.5 mm.

… Bob Patterson, 8 June, 2009 - 3:20pm

help needed

...in distinguishing Redectis vitrea from R. pygmaea. Could this be a female, and the images linked to in the Internet References section of the vitrea Guide page are males? Those photos show a whitish reniform spot, and lack a small patch (at the costa just outside the PM line) that is noticeably paler than the ground color.

Your photo shows a pale patch at the costa, and a yellowish-orange reniform spot (as does Bob's photo) - more like the images linked to on the pygmaea Guide page, but then there's the question of wingspan. Jim Vargo's photos of pygmaea and vitrea are 14 mm and 18 mm respectively but I don't know what the wingspan range is for either species, or whether they overlap.

I notice Jan's comment says only "Redectis sp.", indicating that this could be either vitrea or pygmaea. It would be nice to have more detailed info on these two, and be able to modify the Guide pages as needed.

… Robin McLeod, 15 September, 2006 - 10:35pm

Forbes' Work on NY Moths Gives Wingspans as...

18-25mm for R. vitrea and 13mm (no range) for R. pygmaea. After discussing this with Patrick I decided that I had mistakenly claimed a photo of mine as being pygmaea. I never measured that specimen but it was not substantially different in size from other Redectis I have seen.

OR

Am I wrong in thinking I have R. vitrea? Forbes states that pygmaea is commoner than vitrea about Washington, D.C., but very rare north of there. I live 19 miles east of the White House. Next year I'll have to measure all Redectis that I see.

… Bob Patterson, 16 September, 2006 - 5:21pm

I need help too

Well, Bob and I exchanged e-mails on this photo and his of a similar moth, which appears to be identical to mine. He thinks this is R. vitrea based on the size.
Certainly the sexual dimorphism is a good theory.
I guess we'll leave things the way they are for now, and see if anyone can get more information in the future.

… Cotinis, 16 September, 2006 - 7:40am

Redectis sp.

Redectis sp. (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Herminiinae) - Hodges' ## 8400-8401

… Jan Metlevski , 15 September, 2006 - 12:57pm

If you don't find it on here,

If you don't find it on here, while your waiting for someone who knows it to post, you can browse more moth images at mpg.

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/Plates.shtml

… gehan gehale, 15 September, 2006 - 11:14am