Species Diacme elealis - Paler Diacme Moth - Hodges#5142

5142

Diacme elealis (Walker, 1859)

Samea elealis Walker, 1859

Botys taedialis Walker, 1859

Wingspan 17-23 mm

Yellow FW is Marked with irregular purplish brown bands, All wings have a broad dark border. (1)

According to Brian Scholtens and others, the presence of a basal line on the hindwing is diagnostic for the Darker Diacme - reference. Despite the common name, some forms of the "Darker Diacme" can be just as pale as the "Paler Diacme", but the presence or absence of the basal line is distinctive.

Image showing hindwing basal line/loop:

Identification based on this marking seems to be supported by DNA evidence at BOLD. The BIN group for elealis, AAE7559, shows no examples with the basal line/loop. All examples show a pale yellow basal area with no dark markings. The BIN for adipaloides, AAB2577 shows no examples with this mark absent.

The BOLD sample size for elealis is small and these two species may be part of a complex with undescribed species. Brian Scholtens expressed in an email from 12/5/2017 that the taxonomy in this group may not be settled.

Southeastern United States: Virginia to Florida, west to Kentucky, Texas.

April-September

The host plants are unknown (1)

Unknown

Confusion with the Darker Diacme has led to many erroneous records of this species far north of its actual range, including on Moth Photographers Group, BAMONA, and other sites.

Darker Diacme - Hodges #5143

Covell, p. 400, plate 57 #9 (2)

Walker, 1859. Catalogue of the lepidoptera heterocera. Fourth series. List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. 17: 351

Moth Photographers Group (3)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (4)

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) (5)