Ethmia marmorea

Walsingham, 1888

Ethmia marmorea is a small in the Depressariidae, distributed across western North America from the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains. The exhibits distinctive wing patterning with a longitudinal dividing line separating dark and light areas. are active during summer months, with likely a single per year. Larval remains poorly documented for this species.

Acrobasis marmorea (2) (48379274012) by Ben Sale from Stevenage, UK. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.Vitula biviella (48379120466) by Ben Sale from Stevenage, UK. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.Gypsonoma dealbana (48379121286) by Ben Sale from Stevenage, UK. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ethmia marmorea: /ˈɛθ.mi.a mɑrˈmɔr.i.a/

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Identification

Distinguished from similar Ethmia by the specific pattern of the longitudinal line on the forewing with its characteristic triangular spurs, and the particular arrangement of whitish blotches along the . The combination of white area and dark brown costal area is diagnostic within its range. May be confused with tortricid leafroller moths but differs in having upturned labial palps that project forward like horns between the .

Images

Appearance

Forewing length 8.4–11.7 mm. Forewings patterned with a longitudinal line along the Cu fold that extends below as blunt, triangular spurs at the basal one-fourth, middle, and terminal area. area of forewing white; area costad of the line dark brown, usually with one or more ill-defined whitish blotches along the . Hindwings whitish basally, becoming pale brownish on the half.

Habitat

Found in lower elevations of Great Basin mountain ranges and Rocky Mountains. Associated with dry, open in montane regions. Specific microhabitat preferences for larvae unknown; attracted to light.

Distribution

North America: south-eastern British Columbia, eastern Pacific states (Washington, Oregon, California), northern and central Colorado, and central Chihuahua, Mexico. Range spans the lower elevations of the Great Basin mountain ranges and the Rocky Mountains.

Seasonality

on wing from May to August. Probably one per year.

Life Cycle

Probably (one per year). Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Larval and plant relationships not documented for this .

Behavior

are and attracted to light. Larval unknown.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Ethmia speciesSimilar size, coloration, and wing pattern; distinguished by specific details of the longitudinal line and costal blotches
  • Tortricidae (leafroller moths)Similar resting posture and wing shape; distinguished by upturned labial palps in Ethmia

More Details

Taxonomic history

The Ethmia was formerly placed in Coleophoridae but is now classified in Depressariidae. Family Ethmiidae is also used in some sources.

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Sources and further reading