Aristotelia elegantella
(Chambers, 1874)
Elegant Aristotelia
Aristotelia elegantella is a tiny in the , commonly known as the Elegant Aristotelia. It was described by Vactor Tousey Chambers in 1874 and is found across much of North America, from southern Canada through the western and central United States. The is notable for its striking pattern featuring of , ochreous-, and iridescent . It has been recorded at blacklight setups and appears to be attracted to artificial light sources.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aristotelia elegantella: //ˌæɹɪstəˈtiːliə ˌɛləɡænˈtɛlə//
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Identification
The combination of small size (~13 mm wingspan), distinctive banded pattern with , ochreous-, and iridescent elements, and the presence of raised metallic tufts on the margin separate this from other Aristotelia. The oblong -yellow or golden near the , enclosed by curved brown , is particularly distinctive. Similar Aristotelia species lack this specific arrangement of metallic elevations and the golden patch.
Images
Appearance
A small with wingspan approximately 13 mm. base is and iridescent, wider on the margin than . An oblique ochreous or yellowish-orange crosses the , margined with anteriorly and posteriorly. This is followed by an oblique white band, widely margined behind by an iridescent brown that terminates at a smooth tuft of raised metallic on the dorsal margin. A dark brown margin extends from the second brown backwards along the disc, containing three smooth metallic elevations similar to the dorsal tuft; the wing between this streak and the is white, while between the streak and dorsal margin it is white and pale ochreous. The streak terminates just before the dorsal at a curved fascia that is convex toward the base, reddish ochreous on the dorsal margin and brown on the costal margin. This is followed by another oblique fascia nearest the tip on the costal margin, with a wide white portion and brown dorsal portion that is brilliant metallic in some lights; the brown portion narrows where it meets the white and curves around behind it to the costal margin, then curves as a narrow line backwards around the at the base of the cilia, returning to its origin on the dorsal margin, thus enclosing an oblong - or golden parallel with the base of the dorsal cilia. In some lights this fascia appears dull brown without metallic sheen, and the yellowish ochreous parts become almost brick red.
Distribution
North America: recorded from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario (Canada), Texas, and Utah.
Behavior
Attracted to blacklight/ultraviolet light sources; has been documented at backyard blacklight setups in Colorado.
Similar Taxa
- Aristotelia sp.Other in the Aristotelia share similar small size and bold markings, but A. elegantella is distinguished by its specific pattern of ochreous , iridescent margins, and the distinctive golden . The genus as a whole comprises tiny ' ' with striking patterns, but species identification requires attention to the specific arrangement of colored bands and metallic tufts.