Carmenta suffusata
Engelhardt, 1946
Carmenta suffusata is a clearwing moth in the Sesiidae, described by George Paul Engelhardt in 1946. It is known from scattered records in the United States, specifically Florida, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Like other members of the Carmenta, it belongs to a group of seed-feeding clearwing moths. The is poorly known, with only three observations recorded in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Carmenta suffusata: //karˈmɛnta sʌfˈfuːsɑːtə//
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Identification
As a member of the Carmenta, C. suffusata likely exhibits the characteristic clearwing : narrow, largely transparent wings with reduced scaling, -like body form, and often yellow or orange markings on a dark background. However, specific diagnostic features distinguishing C. suffusata from are not documented in the available sources. Accurate identification would require examination of genitalia or molecular analysis, as is standard for Sesiidae.
Distribution
United States: Florida, Oklahoma, and Kansas. GBIF records indicate a Nearctic distribution.
Similar Taxa
- Other Carmenta speciesThe Carmenta contains approximately 100 described , many of which are difficult to distinguish without detailed examination. C. suffusata may be confused with other North American clearwing moths in the same genus, particularly those with overlapping ranges in the southern and central United States.
More Details
Data limitations
This is exceptionally poorly documented. The Wikipedia entry provides only taxonomic authority, year of description, and three state records. No information on , plants, or detailed appears to be published in readily accessible sources. The low observation count (3 records in iNaturalist) suggests it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Related research context
Research on congeneric , such as Carmenta brachyclados described from Guyana in 2024, indicates that Carmenta species are seed-feeders often associated with leguminous plants. However, this ecological trait has not been confirmed for C. suffusata specifically.