Cicinnus melsheimeri

Distinguished from the southwestern C. chambersi by the more obtuse angle of the forewing postmedial line near the apex and by male genitalia with elongated vincular arms (versus reduced in C. chambersi). Differs from C. mexicana in both morphology and genetics. The variable brown marginal wing shading can aid field recognition but is not consistent.

Adults display brown shaded regions along wing margins, though this shading is variable. The forewing postmedial line forms a more obtuse angle near the apex compared to C. chambersi. Male genitalia feature elongated vincular arms, a diagnostic trait distinguishing this species from congeners.

Mid-elevation oak forests in mountainous regions; occurs in northern Arizona north of the Mogollon Rim, central and northern New Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains. Eastern populations occupy broadleaf forest habitats east of the Great Plains.

Eastern United States from extreme southern Ontario southward, west to the Great Plains; Rocky Mountain region including northern Arizona, northern New Mexico, and western Texas; Mexico.

Late night-flying activity pattern. Rarely collected in the Rocky Mountain portion of its range despite being widespread in the eastern United States. Not sympatric with C. chambersi.

• Cicinnus chambersiOverlaps in Arizona but not sympatric; distinguished by more acute angle of forewing postmedial line and reduced vincular arms in male genitalia
• Cicinnus mexicanaMexican species closely related to C. chambersi; both differ from C. melsheimeri in morphology and genetics

• sack-bearer moth
• North America
• oak forest

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Cicinnus chambersi: a new species of sack-bearer moth (Lepidoptera, Mimallonidae, Cicinninae) from southeastern Arizona, USA