Choristostigma zephyralis
Barnes & McDunnough, 1914
Choristostigma zephyralis is a small crambid described from California in 1914. are distinguished by bright sulphur yellow forewings shading to orange yellow at the termen, with prominent purple markings including a costal extending to the spot. The hindwings are sulphur yellow with dark subbasal, discal, and subterminal lines plus purplish suffusion beyond the subterminal line. The has a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. feed on Monardella villosa, a California native mint.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Choristostigma zephyralis: /kɔːˌrɪstɔˈstɪɡmə ˌzɛfəˈrɑːlɪs/
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Identification
Forewings sulphur yellow shading into orange yellow terminally; purple to the spot. oval, reniform spot figure-eight shaped, both filled with purple and attached to the costal . Hindwings sulphur yellow with subbasal dark line prominent only above inner margin, small discal dot, subterminal line, and purplish suffusion beyond subterminal line. Wingspan approximately 23 mm.
Habitat
Associated with supporting its larval plant Monardella villosa, which occurs in chaparral, coastal scrub, and dry woodland in California.
Distribution
Recorded from California, North America. Specific localities include areas where Monardella villosa occurs.
Seasonality
on from April to July.
Diet
feed on Monardella villosa (coyote mint).
Host Associations
- Monardella villosa - larval
Similar Taxa
- Choristostigma roseopennalisBoth occur in western North American crambid fauna and share similar yellow-orange coloration with purple markings; distinguished by specific pattern elements of the and and geographic range
- Other Choristostigma species members share general spilomeline crambid ; specific identification requires examination of pattern details, particularly the configuration of purple markings on forewing and hindwing pattern elements