Scythris basilaris
(Zeller, 1855)
Scythris basilaris is a of microlepidopteran in the Scythrididae, first described by Zeller in 1855. Members of this are commonly known as flower moths due to their frequent association with flowering plants. The family Scythrididae is taxonomically unstable, with some authorities treating it as a (Scythridinae) of Xyloryctidae. Like many microlepidopterans, this species is poorly documented in studies.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Scythris basilaris: /ˈsɪθ.rɪs bæˈsɪ.lə.rɪs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Similar Taxa
- Scythris mixaulaBoth are small scythridid found in western North America; S. mixaula is abundant in western states and feeds on cactus, but is not known from the Great Basin region.
- Neoscythris spp.Neoscythris is a closely related within Scythrididae that shares similar small size and flower-visiting ; genitalia dissection is typically required for definitive separation.
- Landryia spp.Landryia is distinguished by strikingly asymmetrical genitalia, a feature not found in Scythris; external of is often insufficient for separation without dissection.
More Details
Taxonomic instability
The -level placement of Scythris basilaris remains unsettled. Scythrididae is treated as a valid family by Microleps.org and the Photographers Group, but as the Scythridinae within Xyloryctidae by BugGuide.net and the Tree of Life project.
Undescribed diversity
The Scythris contains dozens of known , but only 4-6 are formally described per genus according to Powell. Many specimens collected over decades await formal description pending comprehensive revisionary work.