Gnophaela discreta

Stretch, 1875

Gnophaela discreta is a in the Erebidae, first described by Stretch in 1875. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The has a wingspan of approximately 38 mm. Its larvae feed on Mertensia species.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gnophaela discreta: //noʊˈfiːlə dɪˈskriːtə//

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Identification

Insufficient documented information available to distinguish this from . The Gnophaela includes several species with similar black-and-white patterning; precise identification may require examination of genitalia or geographic provenance.

Appearance

Wingspan approximately 38 mm. Specific coloration and pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Distribution

Found in Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Diet

Larvae feed on Mertensia .

Host Associations

Mertensia - larval food plant

Similar Taxa

Gnophaela vermiculataSimilar black-and-white coloration pattern; commonly known as the Police Car Moth

More Details

Taxonomic history

Like other arctiine , Gnophaela discreta has undergone repeated -level reclassification. Formerly placed in family (tiger moths), this group was later subsumed into Noctuidae, then reconstituted as Arctiinae within Erebidae following Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010).