Gazoryctra
Hübner, [1820]
Species Guides
9Gazoryctra is a of ghost moths in the Hepialidae, comprising 14 described distributed across northern Eurasia and North America. The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution pattern, with North American species ranging from Alaska to the southern Appalachians and southern Rocky Mountains, but notably absent from the southern-central United States despite apparently suitable forested . This gap may reflect historical biogeographic barriers rather than ecological limitations.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Gazoryctra: /ɡəˈzɔrɪktrə/
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Images
Habitat
Forested regions
Distribution
Northern Eurasia; North America from Alaska to southern Appalachians and southern Rocky Mountains. Absent from southern-central United States.
Diet
Roots or other organic matter
Similar Taxa
- SthenopisBoth are North American Hepialidae with overlapping geographic ranges; Sthenopis contains four versus ten in Gazoryctra
- PhymatopusNorth American Hepialidae with three , distinguished from Gazoryctra by morphological features not detailed in available sources
- Korscheltellus North American Hepialidae ; single versus multiple species in Gazoryctra
More Details
Biogeographic anomaly
The absence of Gazoryctra from the southern-central United States, despite suitable forested , has been hypothesized to result from lack of following regression of inland seas that covered much of this region until the end of the Mesozoic.