Prolita barnesiella
(Busck, 1903)
Prolita barnesiella is a gelechiid described by August Busck in 1903. It is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 22–27 mm, characterized by variable brown forewings with distinctive dark markings including an arrowhead-shaped pattern on the disc. The species occurs in western North America from the southwestern United States to Alberta, Canada. It belongs to the tribe Litini within the Gelechiinae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Prolita barnesiella: /proʊˈlaɪtə bɑːrnˈziːljə/
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Identification
Distinguished from similar Prolita by the arrowhead-shaped discal pattern formed by two oblique blackish streaks on the forewing. The combination of variable brown ground color with the specific arrangement of dark spots—particularly the paired costal and spots before the apex and the spot series—provides diagnostic characters. The light silvery fuscous hindwings contrast with the darker forewings.
Distribution
Western North America: recorded from California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming, and Utah in the United States, and from Alberta, Canada.
Similar Taxa
- Other Prolita speciesShare similar size range and general gelechiid ; distinguished by the specific forewing pattern elements, particularly the arrowhead-shaped discal markings and the arrangement of costal and spots
More Details
Type description
Original description by August Busck in 1903; the epithet likely honors an individual with surname Barnes
Taxonomic placement
Member of tribe Litini within Gelechiinae; the Prolita contains multiple North American with similar general appearance