Tricholita ferrisi

Identification to species level requires examination of genitalic morphology and comparison with described type material. The species is distinguished from other Tricholita species by subtle morphological characters described in the original description (Crabo & Lafontaine 2009). Field identification is complicated by the lack of published diagnostic external characters and the restricted, allopatric distribution.

High-elevation coniferous forest in the Madrean Sky Islands region. Known from elevations between 1,575 and 2,325 meters in the Chiricahua and Huachuca Mountains.

Endemic to extreme southeastern Arizona, United States. Known from only two localities: Onion Saddle in the Chiricahua Mountains and Ash Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains.

Adults active in late July. All known specimens were collected during this brief window, suggesting either a univoltine life cycle with narrow adult emergence period or limited sampling effort.

Attracted to light traps. No other behavioral observations have been published.

• Tricholita signataA congeneric species in the same genus with similar size and habitat preferences in western North America; requires genitalic examination for definitive separation.
• Other Tricholita speciesMultiple congeners occur in western North America; external morphology is often similar, necessitating dissection and reference to original descriptions for accurate identification.

• endemic
• sky island
• noctuidae
• lepidoptera
• arizona
• madrean
• high elevation
• restricted range
• light trap

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Encyrtid Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
• Green Light: New ID Test Ready for Invasive Mealybug Pest
• Oedemeridae | Beetles In The Bush