Ponometia dorneri
(Barnes & McDunnough, 1913)
bird-dropping moth
Ponometia dorneri is a of in the , first described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. It belongs to the Acontiinae, commonly known as bird-dropping moths for their cryptic appearance. The species occurs in North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9091. Taxonomic placement has been unstable, with the species previously placed in Tarache and Acontia.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ponometia dorneri: /ˌpɒnoʊˈmeɪʃiə ˈdɔrnɛri/
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Identification
As a member of the bird-dropping group, Ponometia dorneri likely exhibits the characteristic mottled gray, , and black patterning that resembles avian . Definitive identification to level within Ponometia requires examination of or detailed pattern analysis. The MONA/Hodges number 9091 provides a standardized reference for North moth identification.
Distribution
North America. Specific range details beyond continental occurrence are not documented in available sources.
Similar Taxa
- Other Ponometia speciesCongeneric share the bird-dropping appearance and require careful examination of patterns or for separation.
- Acontia speciesP. dorneri has been synonymized under Acontia in some taxonomic treatments, indicating close morphological similarity to members of that .
More Details
Taxonomic instability
This has been placed in three : originally described as Tarache dorneri, later moved to Acontia, and currently accepted in Ponometia. GBIF lists it as a synonym of Acontia dorneri, while Catalogue of Life and NCBI accept Ponometia dorneri as the valid name.