Neopalpa

Povolný, 1998

Species Guides

Neopalpa donaldtrumpi(Donald Trump Moth)
Neopalpa neonata

Neopalpa is a of small in the Gelechiidae, tribe Gnorimoschemini. The genus was established in 1998 and contains at least two described . It is most closely related to the genera Ochrodia and Ephysteris. One species, Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, gained international attention when described in 2017 due to its distinctive yellowish-white that resemble a particular hairstyle, and was named to draw attention to conservation needs for fragile desert .

Neopalpa donaldtrumpi by (c)
Dr. Vazrick Nazari, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Neopalpa donaldtrumpi by (c)
Vazrick Nazari, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Neopalpa by (c) Vazrick Nazari, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Neopalpa: //ˌniː.oʊˈpæl.pə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of Neopalpa can be distinguished from related Ochrodia and Ephysteris by genitalic and external morphological features detailed in the original genus description. The genus is classified within the tribe Gnorimoschemini based on phylogenetic relationships.

Images

Habitat

in this inhabit sandy desert and dune environments. The type locality for N. donaldtrumpi is the Algodones Dunes, a region of wind-blown sand stretching across the border region of California, USA and Baja California, Mexico. The is described as fragile and under threat from urbanization and other human activities.

Distribution

The is found in southern California, Arizona, and northern Mexico (Baja California). The known range spans a narrow strip of along the Mexico–United States border.

Human Relevance

The received substantial media attention in 2017 when N. donaldtrumpi was described, with coverage from major news outlets and scientific blogs. The naming was explicitly intended to raise public awareness about the importance of conserving fragile that contain undescribed species. The of N. donaldtrumpi is housed at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis.

Similar Taxa

OchrodiaMost closely related within tribe Gnorimoschemini; distinguished by morphological and genitalic differences
EphysterisAnother closely related in the same tribe; Neopalpa separated based on distinct diagnostic characters

Misconceptions

Fake images purporting to show N. donaldtrumpi with elaborate pink, black, orange and metallic green wing patterns and prominent blond hair tufts have circulated online. These images are actually modified photographs of butterflies ( Nymphalidae), not . The actual has small orange-yellow and brown wings with a wingspan under one centimeter, with yellowish-white on the .

More Details

Type species

The was established by Povolný in 1998. The type and additional species were reviewed by Nazari (2017), who described N. donaldtrumpi as the second known species in the genus.

Conservation significance

The discovery of new in this from the well-studied southern California region highlights that even densely populated and intensively surveyed areas may harbor undescribed micro-fauna, and that small, fragile remain important for biodiversity conservation.