Moselia
Ricker, 1943
Species Guides
2- Moselia infuscata(Hairy Needlefly)
- Moselia zonata(Banded-wing Needlefly)
Moselia is a of rolled-winged stoneflies in the Leuctridae, established by Ricker in 1943. The genus contains at least two described : Moselia infuscata (Claassen, 1923) and Moselia zonata Stark & Harrison, 2016. Species in this genus are found in western North America, with records from British Columbia to California. As members of Leuctridae, they possess the family's characteristic rolled-wing resting posture.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Moselia: /moʊˈsiːliə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Moselia can be distinguished from other Leuctridae by genitalic characters, particularly male aedeagal structure and female subgenital plate . The genus is most readily separated from closely related genera such as Leuctra by subtle differences in wing venation and body coloration patterns. M. zonata is distinguished from M. infuscata by distinct abdominal segment banding (zonation), from which its specific epithet is derived.
Images
Distribution
Western North America: British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. Distribution records suggest a Pacific coastal and montane association.
Similar Taxa
- LeuctraBoth are in Leuctridae with rolled-wing resting posture; Moselia is distinguished by genitalic and subtle wing venation differences.
- ParaleuctraAnother western Nearctic leuctrid ; Moselia differs in male aedeagal and female subgenital plate structure.
More Details
Species diversity
Only two are formally described, but the low observation count (39 records on iNaturalist) and limited geographic sampling suggest additional undescribed species may exist in poorly surveyed regions of western North America.