Nycteola fletcheri

Rindge, 1961

Nycteola fletcheri is a of nolid in the Nolidae, described by Rindge in 1961. It is a small moth found in North America. The species is not to be confused with Calyptra fletcheri, a vampire moth in the family Erebidae that has been documented feeding on blood in laboratory settings.

Nycteola fletcheri by (c) jimeckert49, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nycteola fletcheri: /nɪkˈtʰiːə.lə ˈflɛtʃ.əˌraɪ/

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Identification

Nycteola fletcheri can be distinguished from the unrelated Calyptra fletcheri by -level characters: Nolidae versus Erebidae. Within Nolidae, Nycteola are small typically associated with conifers. The MONA or Hodges number for this species is 8979.

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Distribution

North America.

Human Relevance

The name 'fletcheri' has caused confusion with Calyptra fletcheri, a vampire known for blood-feeding . Nycteola fletcheri is not a blood-feeding species and belongs to an entirely different (Nolidae versus Erebidae).

Similar Taxa

Calyptra fletcheriShares the same specific epithet 'fletcheri' and was historically confused due to naming coincidence, but belongs to Erebidae, Calpinae, and has documented blood-feeding in males under laboratory conditions. Nycteola fletcheri is in family Nolidae and has no known blood-feeding behavior.

Misconceptions

The has been mistakenly associated with 'vampire ' due to confusion with Calyptra fletcheri. Nycteola fletcheri is not a blood-feeding moth and does not possess the modified piercing characteristic of Calyptra species.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The Nycteola (Nolidae) is phylogenetically distant from Calyptra (Erebidae). The shared specific epithet 'fletcheri' is coincidental and does not indicate close relationship.

Hodges number

MONA or Hodges number 8979.