Species Dryadaula terpsichorella - Hawaiian Dancing Moth - Hodges#0307.1

0307.1

Dryadaula terpsichorella (Busck, 1910)

Cyane terpsichorella Busck, 1910

Synonyms

Choropleca terpsichorella Durrant 1914

Diachalastis tetraglossa Meyrick 1920

Powell & Opler (2009) stated "The common name is derived from characteristic circular gyrations, with a crablike sideways gait, which the moth performs each time it alights." (1)

Adult: Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 3.5-4 mm.(1)

Larva: Full-grown larva is about 9–10 mm (2)

Adult: FW mainly creamy white with some delicate brown, the tips of the forewings are margined with a blackish line that is outwardly edged with white(2). Ground color can vary from buff to dark brown; note the diagonal white bands at the junction of thorax and FWs and the folded (indented) tips of the FWs in resting posture; antennae are banded brown and white.

Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). (3)

Larva: Larva cylindrical and very dark brown with two brownish spots on each side of segments three and four. (2)

Dryadaula terpsichorella "was originally described from Hawaii, where it was believed to have been introduced in 1900." (1)

Busck, A. 1910. New Central-American Microlepidoptera introduced into the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 12: 134.

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, p. 51; pl. 2, fig. 29. (1)

Zimmerman, E.C., 1978. Microlepidoptera. Insects of Hawaii. 9(1):328 (includes detailed description of all stages and keys)