Carmenta auritincta
(Engelhardt, 1925)
Arizona Clearwing Moth
Carmenta auritincta, the Arizona , is a sesiid described by Engelhardt in 1925. It belongs to a of clearwing moths that are known for their -mimicking appearance and seed-feeding larval habits. The has a restricted distribution in the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Like other members of , are and often mistaken for hymenopterans.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Carmenta auritincta: /karˈmɛn.ta au̯ˈrɪ.tɪŋk.ta/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Known from southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico. Distribution records are sparse, with only 11 iNaturalist observations documented.
Similar Taxa
- Carmenta wildishorumAnother southwestern North with overlapping geographic range; C. wildishorum was described from New Mexico in 2017 and has been documented in Colorado, potentially occurring near C. auritincta
- Carmenta brachycladosNeotropical from Guyana with similar clearwing ; distinguished by short and much more southern distribution
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described as Synanthedon auritincta by Engelhardt in 1925, later transferred to Carmenta. The basionym reflects historical placement in a different sesiid genus.
Data availability
This remains poorly documented in public repositories. Most information on Carmenta species biology is inferred from better-studied , and direct observations of C. auritincta are limited.