Prostomeus Explained

Prostomeus is a genus of moths in the family Gelechiidae. It contains only one species, Prostomeus brunneus, which is found in Cuba[1] and the south-eastern United States, where it has been recorded from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina.[2]

Description

The wingspan is 15-15.5 mm. The forewings are light straw colored, overlaid with reddish brown and with the base dark purplish brown. There is a dark purplish brown oblong narrow patch along the middle of the costa from the basal fourth to the apical third. A larger similar patch is found on the dorsal edge, projecting up in the light middle part of the wing a boot-shaped figure, with the toe on the center of the cell, and the heel midway between this and a unicolorous circular spot at the end of the cell. The tornus is dark brown, and the apical veins are slightly indicated by darker brown streaks. There is a row of dark, purplish-brown dots around the apex at the base of the cilia. The hindwings are dark steel gray, lighter toward the base.[3]

Notes and References

  1. http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/gelechiidae/anacampsinae/prostomeus/ Prostomeus at funet
  2. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2256 mothphotographersgroup
  3. https://archive.org/stream/proceedingsofuni251903unit#page/838/mode/1up Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 25 (1304) : 838