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 marked with bright red-orange and black spots, and with a broad black marginal . 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 , combined with bearing a broad black marginal . Upturned (mouthparts resembling horns between ) help distinguish Ethmia from superficially similar leafrolling . Species-level identification within Ethmia typically requires examination of or reference to specific spot patterns and geographic distribution.

Images

Appearance

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

Habitat

Associated with oak woodlands and foothill . The specific larval 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 biology unknown for this .

Similar Taxa

Ethmia discostrigellaSimilar size and general appearance, but differs in spot pattern on 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 and characters

More Details

Taxonomic history

The Ethmia was formerly placed in , but is now classified in Depressariidae (or Ethmiidae in some treatments). The family-level 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.