Afrida ydatodes
Dyar, 1913
Dyar's Lichen Moth
Afrida ydatodes, commonly known as Dyar's lichen , is a small moth in the Nolidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1913. The species is found in the southeastern United States, with records from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. have a wingspan of approximately 10 mm and can be distinguished from the similar Afrida cosmiogramma by their diffused, irrorated wing pattern with clouded central band edges.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Afrida ydatodes: //əˈfɹɪdə ɪdəˈtoʊdiːz//
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Identification
Differs from Afrida cosmiogramma by having diffused and irrorated forewings rather than clearer pattern elements. The central band is clouded with edges that do not form strong lines, only slightly darker than surrounding areas, whereas A. cosmiogramma has more distinctly defined pattern elements. The white forewing areas appear pale grey due to dark irrorations in A. ydatodes.
Images
Distribution
Southeastern United States: recorded from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.
Similar Taxa
- Afrida cosmiogrammaSimilar overall appearance, but A. ydatodes has diffused and irrorated forewings with clouded central band edges, while A. cosmiogramma has more distinctly defined pattern elements with stronger lines.
More Details
Taxonomic note
NCBI places this in Erebidae, reflecting alternative classifications where Nolidae is treated as a (Nolinae) within Erebidae. The more widely accepted treatment in North American checklists retains Nolidae as a distinct family.
Etymology
Specific epithet 'ydatodes' from Greek 'hydatos' (water) + '-odes' (resembling), possibly referring to the watery or washed-out appearance of the wing pattern. honors describer Harrison Gray Dyar Jr.