Pseudotelphusa fuscopunctella

Distinguished from other Pseudotelphusa species by the specific arrangement of dark fuscous spots on the forewing: three costal spots with the middle one largest, paired subcostal dots beneath the basal spot, and the characteristic pale brown marginal shading beneath the largest and basal costal spots. The combination of dots at the fold base and extreme costal base, plus the hindmargin dots at the cilia base, provides additional diagnostic features. Accurate identification requires examination of wing pattern details; genitalia dissection may be necessary for definitive separation from congeners.

Forewings are dark grey with complex dark fuscous spotting. Three dark fuscous spots run along the costa: a small one near the base, a larger one midway, and one at the beginning of the costal cilia. Two small spots of the same hue sit obliquely beneath the basal costal spot, one on each side of the fold. Two dark fuscous dots appear in the middle of the wing, one above the other, beneath the costal cilia spot. The largest costal spot and the basal spot are slightly margined beneath with pale brown. The hindmargin at the base of the cilia bears three or four dark fuscous dots. A dark fuscous dot occurs at the basal end of the fold and another at the extreme base of the costa.

Eastern and southeastern United States. Recorded from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

• Other Pseudotelphusa speciesShare general wing pattern elements of dark grey ground color with fuscous spotting, requiring careful examination of spot arrangement and marginal coloration for separation.

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