Scaralina aethrinsula

Distinguished from congeners Scaralina cristata, S. marmorata, and S. metcalfi by specific morphological features that warranted its separation from the former Alphina glauca complex. In Arizona, its range overlaps with S. cristata and S. metcalfi, requiring careful examination for positive identification.

Montane environments above 1000 meters elevation. Associated with oak (Quercus) woodlands. Documented occurrence in Madrean Sky Islands, Magdalena Mountains, Sacramento Mountains, and Sierra Madre Occidental.

United States: Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico. Mexico: Chihuahua (Sierra Madre Occidental). Core distribution centered on Madrean Sky Islands of Arizona with extensions east of the Continental Divide into New Mexico and north to Idaho.

Associated with oaks (Quercus spp.). Has been reared on Quercus arizonica, though this may not represent the preferred host species.

• Quercus - associated withgenus-level association; specific host preferences unclear
• Quercus arizonica - reared onpossible but not confirmed preferred host

Adults are readily and commonly attracted to blacklights.

• Scaralina cristataformerly grouped together under Alphina glauca; co-occurs in Arizona
• Scaralina marmorataformerly grouped together under Alphina glauca; Alphina glauca is now synonymized with this species
• Scaralina metcalfiformerly grouped together under Alphina glauca; co-occurs in Arizona

For several decades, this species was erroneously grouped with S. cristata, S. marmorata, and S. metcalfi under the single name Alphina glauca. This name is now treated as a synonym of S. marmorata, not S. aethrinsula.

• montane
• oak-associated
• blacklight-attracted
• Madrean Sky Islands

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• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life