Microthyris lelex
Cramer, 1777
Microthyris lelex is a crambid described by Pieter Cramer in 1777. It has a broad Neotropical distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America, with recent records from southern Florida suggesting potential range expansion. The remains poorly documented in scientific literature beyond basic taxonomic and distributional data.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Microthyris lelex: /maɪˈkɹoʊˌθaɪɹɪs ˈlilɛks/
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Distribution
Widespread in the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. Documented records include Suriname, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. Recently recorded from southern Florida, indicating possible northward range extension.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Microthyris belongs to the Crambidae, a large group of grass moths. The specific epithet 'lelex' derives from Greek mythology (Lelex was a king of Megara), following the classical naming conventions common in Cramer's 18th-century descriptions.
Data availability
Despite being described in 1777, M. lelex remains poorly studied. iNaturalist records (15 observations as of source date) suggest it is rarely encountered or underreported. No published studies on its , , or stages were found in the provided sources.