Chionodes chrysopyla explained

Chionodes chrysopyla is a moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from California, Arizona, Washington and British Columbia.[1] [2]

The wingspan is 11–13 mm. The forewings are whitish and whitish ochreous, unevenly irrorated and overlaid blackish. There is a light area from the costa near the base pointing obliquely toward the plical stigma which is indistinctly blackish at one-third. There is a black oblique band from about the costal one-fourth, beyond the light area, to the first discal stigma which is moderately large and black. The second discal is black, large, irregular at two-thirds. Beyond this, the wing area is darker and there is a whitish narrow zig-zag fascia from the costa to the tornus and there are indications of lighter spots around the apical margins. The hindwings are light grey basally, darker apically.[3]

The larvae feed on Quercus agrifolia, Quercus lobata, Quercus wislizenii and Quercus dumosa.

Notes and References

  1. http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/gelechiidae/gelechiinae/chionodes/ Chionodes at funet
  2. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2068 mothphotographersgroup
  3. https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ppd/PDF/Bulletin1935_CaliforniaMicrolepidopteraVII.pdf Calif. Dept. Agric., Mon. Bull. 24 : 201