Cacotherapia
Dyar, 1904
Species Guides
7A of snout moths ( Pyralidae) established by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. The genus contains twelve described distributed across the southern United States through Central America to Panama. Cacotherapia belongs to the Galleriinae, which includes commonly known as honeycomb moths or wax moths.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cacotherapia: //ˌkækəʊˈθɛrəpɪə//
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Identification
Members of this are distinguished from related snout moths by genitalic characters and wing pattern elements; specific identification generally requires examination of male genitalia structure. The genus can be separated from superficially similar Galleriinae by the combination of forewing pattern and antennal structure, though precise field identification to genus level is challenging without dissection.
Images
Distribution
Southern United States (records from Texas and adjacent regions), Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama. The shows a clear Neotropical distribution pattern with northern extension into subtropical North America.
Similar Taxa
- GalleriaBoth belong to Galleriinae and share general body form; Galleria is larger and includes the greater wax moth, a significant pest of honeybee colonies, whereas Cacotherapia are not known to be associated with bees.
- AchroiaAnother Galleriinae with overlapping distribution; Achroia are generally smaller with reduced wing patterning compared to Cacotherapia.