Ethmia lassenella

Busck, 1908

Ethmia lassenella is a small in the Ethmiidae, found in the western United States. are active in early spring, with a distinctive appearance featuring steel gray forewings marked with bright red-orange and black spots, and white hindwings with a broad black marginal band. The species is one of approximately 50 Ethmia species occurring north of Mexico, most of which are concentrated in the southwestern United States.

Ethmia lassenella by (c) Elliott Gordon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Elliott Gordon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ethmia lassenella: //ˈɛθ.mi.ə ˌlæs.əˈnɛl.lə//

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Identification

Distinguished from other Ethmia by the specific pattern of two bright red-orange spots and five smaller black spots on steel gray forewings, combined with white hindwings bearing a broad black marginal band. Upturned palps (mouthparts resembling horns between ) help distinguish Ethmia from superficially similar tortricid leafrolling . Species-level identification within Ethmia typically requires examination of genitalia or reference to specific spot patterns and geographic distribution.

Images

Appearance

Small with forewing length 7.8–8.3 mm. Forewings steel gray including fringe, with two bright red-orange spots and five smaller black spots. Hindwings white with broad black, moderately well-defined marginal band. Overall coloration black, white, and gray with contrasting red-orange markings.

Habitat

Associated with oak woodlands and foothill . The specific larval plant has not been documented for this , though most Ethmia species feed on plants in Boraginaceae, Ehretiaceae, and Hydrophyllaceae.

Distribution

United States: California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

Seasonality

active from mid-March to mid-April.

Behavior

attracted to blacklights. Larval unknown for this .

Similar Taxa

Ethmia discostrigellaSimilar size and general appearance, but differs in spot pattern on forewings and is associated with Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus) as larval
Other Ethmia speciesApproximately 50 north of Mexico, most in southwestern U.S.; species distinguished by specific arrangements of spots on forewings and genitalia characters

More Details

Taxonomic history

The Ethmia was formerly placed in Coleophoridae, but is now classified in Depressariidae (or Ethmiidae in some treatments). The family-level classification of this group remains subject to revision.

Collection and study

Like many 'micro' , E. lassenella is rarely encountered by casual observers despite being relatively large for its group. Most Ethmia are documented through light trapping in appropriate during their brief periods.