prolita princeps is a moth of the gelechiidae family .

it was described by august busck in 1910 .

it is found in north america , where it has been recorded from california , washington , montana , oregon , new mexico , utah and british columbia .

the wingspan is 16.5 – 20 mm .

prolita princeps

gnorimoschema princeps busck , 1910 ; proc . ent . soc . wash . 11 ( 4 ) : 175 ; tl : california
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: the scales on the costal half at the base and the costal margin on the forewings are buff white with brown tips , while the scales on the area costad and distad of the medial brown streak are white to buff white with pale brown apices , and the scales dorsad of the brown streak are pale yellow . a few buff tipped scales are found on the outer margin . the hindwings are fuscous , with the veins slightly darker .
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california , colorado , arizona , new mexico , texas , wyoming , utah . see [ maps ]
gelechia barnesiella busck , 1903 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 25 ( 1304 ) : 875 ; tl : colorado , gelnwood springs
lita deoia hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 20 ; tl : smokey valley , 6000ft , tulare co . , california
lita dialis hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 21 ; tl : paradise , cochise co . , arizona
lita geniata hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 18 ; tl : la puerta valley , so . california
lita incicur hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 17 ; tl : smokey valley , 6300ft , tulare co . , california
utah , arizona , california , colorado , oregon , new mexico . see [ maps ]
gelechia invariabilis kearfott , 1908 ; j . n . y . ent . soc . 16 ( 3 ) : 184 ; tl : stockton , utah
washington , california , colorado , idaho , montana , utah . see [ maps ]
lita jubata hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 34 ; tl : satus creek , yakima co . , washington
larva on chrysothamnus viscidiflorus hodges , 1966 , proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 34
lita maenadis hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 23 ; tl : blanco ' s corral , white mts , mono co . , california , 10150ft
california ; new mexico , nevada , washington , colorado . see [ maps ]
lita nefrens hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 35 ; tl : sonora pass , tuolumne co . , california
larva on chrysothamnus nauseosus hodges , 1966 , proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 36
lita obnubila hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 22 ; tl : fort davis , texas , 5000ft
lita pagella hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 21 ; tl : fort valley , 7350ft , 7 . 5mi flagstaff , coconino co . , arizona
california , washington , montana , new mexico , utah , washington , british columbia . see [ maps ]
gelechia puertella busck , 1916 ; proc . ent . soc . wash . 18 ( 2 ) : 148 ; tl : la puerta , california
california , colorado , montana , new mexico , washington , british columbia . see [ maps ]
lita recens hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 31 ; tl : mt . shasta , california
larva on stenatopsis linearifolius , ericameria cuneata hodges , 1966 , proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 31
california , arizona , colorado , utah , montana , washington , alberta . see [ maps ]
gelechia rectistrigella barnes & busck , 1920 ; contr . nat . hist . lepid . n . am . 4 ( 3 ) : 229 ; tl : west riverside , california
neu , siberia , alps , austria , . . . , alaska , washington , california , utah , wyoming , canada . see [ maps ]
lita sironae hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 27 ; tl : san diego , california
larva on sarothamnus scoparius hodges , 1966 , proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 12 , genista tinctoria , cytisus [ me3 ] , 174
lita thaliae hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 28 ; tl : eureka , utah
larva on chrysothamnus nauseosus hodges , 1966 , proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 29
california , colorado , arizona , california , connecticut , massachusetts , montana , nevada , new mexico , washington , british columbia , manitoba , saskatchewan . see [ maps ]
gelechia variabilis busck , 1903 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 25 ( 1304 ) : 871 ; tl : california ; colorado
lita veledae hodges , 1966 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 119 ( 3547 ) : 24 ; tl : dixieland , imperial co . , california
[ afromoths ] de prins , j . & de prins , w . , 2013
sangmi lee , richard brown & sibyl bucheli . gelechioidea - a global framework ;
[ maps ] warning ! the maps are automatically generated from the textual information , and the process does not always produce acceptable result ; see about maps for more info .
if you have corrections , comments or information to add into these pages , just send mail to markku savela keep in mind that the taxonomic information is copied from various sources , and may include many inaccuracies . expert help is welcome .
confused by a class within a class or an order within an order ? please see our brief essay .
to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
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theretra lycetus , the white-edged hunter hawkmoth , is a moth of the family sphingidae .

it is known from south-east asia , including malaysia , thailand , india , sri lanka and indonesia .

theretra lycetus

theretra lycetus is not as common on the t . oldenlandiae for your location , but the pink suffusion supports this idea . see below for a picture :
as mattdmo suggested , this is a hawk moth . given your location and season , this is why i thought it was either the impatiens hawkmoth ( theretra oldenlandiae ) or the white - edged hunter hawkmoth ( theretra lycetus ) . and finally , why i now think it is the brown - banded hunter ( theretra silhetensis ) .
ed note : august 26 , 2011 after an exchange of comments , we now agree that this is not a yam hawkmoth , but the closely related theretra lycetus from the same genus .
{ author1 , author2 . . . } , ( n . d . ) . theretra lycetus cramer , 1775 . [ online ] india biodiversity portal , species page : { name of species field } available at : urltoken [ accessed date jul 10 , 2018 ] .
almost positive it ' s the impatiens hawkmoth , ( theretra oldenlandiae ) , which is common in india . site for reference
when it comes down to it , that solid single white line is the biggest indicator it is a t . silhetensis over a t . oldenlandiae or t . lycetus .
theretra oldenlandiae was my original instinct , since it is a more common in your area and the banding / stripe pattern matches to a t .
superficially similar to hippotion geryon but immediately distinguishable by the shape of the pale postmedian band and crenulated forewing outer margin . distinguished from centroctena imitans by the broader forewing , with a less crenulated and angulate outer margin with the tooth on m2 the same size as that on m1 . forewing upperside with postmedian lines much more strongly undulate between the apex and m3 than in centroctena imitans uncus rather narrow and obviously curved , apically slightly sinuate . gnathos apically rounded . valve with about 12 large stridulatory scales . harpe a long , slender , horizontal , cylindrical process , slightly upcurved apically . aedeagus superficially similar to theretra clotho group in having a large patch of erect , somewhat curved , deciduous spines , their tips pointing distad ; differing , however , in the spines being curved ( not straight ) and having only a single point , rather than multiple ( caltrops ) points sterigma similar to theretra lycetus , but more triangular . ostium bursae asymmetrical , but not so prominent as in theretra lycetus
the theretra silhetensis exhibits a solid white line along the upperside of its abdomen , and more of a faded banding pattern on the forethat corresponds with your picture . these moths are also common in india .
theretra oldenlandiae , the impatiens hawkmoth or taro hornworm , is a member of the family sphingidae found in india , sri lanka , china , borneo , japan , the philippines , thailand , and australia .
wingspan : 70 - - 90mm . immediately distinguishable from all other species of theretra by the white forewing costa and discal spot , and a narrow white dorsal line restricted to the thorax . forewing upperside purplish - brown with only serrate postmedian line clearly visible ; discal spot a small white dot ; costa highlighted with white . hindwing upperside orange with a slightly darker , diffuse marginal band . head and thorax chestnut - brown ; thorax with a white dorsal stripe and a similar lateral stripe from tip of palpus to end of thorax ; abdomen with first two segments chestnut - brown , rest brownish - pink , paler on the sides . opening at apex of labial palp segment one partly covered by single long scales from the first and second segments ( as in theretra castanea ) . thorax with a white medial line . forebasitarsus with external row of spines doubled and trebled .
theretra oldenlandiae oldenlandiae ( from sri lanka and southern india north to northern pakistan , northern afghanistan , nepal , bhutan and myanmar . then northeastwards through china to taiwan , south korea and japan , and then southeastwards through south east asia as far as the andaman islands , the solomon islands and the philippines . strongly migratory northward to northeastern china ( heilongjiang , liaoning and jilin ) , eastern russia ( primorskiy kray ) and northern japan )
larval hostplants . recorded in china only on aporosa octandra , from both guangdong ( mell , 1922b - - as aporosa leptostachys ) and hong kong ( waring et al . , 1994 - - as aporosa chinensis ) . in india and burma / myanmar theretra pallicosta also feeds on species of aporosa ( fellowes - manson , 1909 ; bell & scott , 1937 ) , while in pakistan it has been recorded on vitis ( fletcher , 1920 ) . a record from camellia sinensis in india ( andrews , 1921 ) is erroneous .
the species differs from lycetus in being greyish brown without pink suffusion and the two dorsal lines on abdomen silvery white . there are also oblique stripes on forewing and the sides of abdomen is ochreous , not golden . hindwing with the submarginal band ochreous and narrow . larva is pale purplish brown in color . there is a yellow subdorsal line and white spots with a pale lateral line below them on the thoracic somites . black - ringed ocelli can be seen on 4th to 10th somites , where the first two centered with blue , and posterior with purple . in the early instars , posterior ocelli are centered with crimson color with dorsal bands of yellow specks . the species is found in open lowland habitats .
chaerocampa pallicosta walker , 1856 , list specimens lepid . insects colln br . mus . 8 : 145 . type locality : [ bangladesh , ] silhet [ sylhet ] ; [ china , ] hong kong .
in the male genitalia , uncus weakly sinuate . gnathos rather narrow , pointed . valve with about ten large stridulatory scales . harpe long , slender , horizontal , apex rounded in dorsal view , flattened . aedeagus with apical edge dorsally rounded - produced , symmetrical ; on left and right sides are dentate processes pointing anteriorly , the left more slender and slightly longer than the right .
according to bell & scott ( 1937 ) , in southern india the moth does not emerge and lay its eggs till the monsoon is well established , about july , but in myanmar ( burma ) eggs and larvae were found before the end of april . they did not see the moth feeding or come to light .
china : iii - xi ( hong kong ) ; v ( yunnan ) ; vii ( xizang / tibet ) .
ovum : green , oval , surface smooth and shiny . usually found on small bushy plants , close to the ground , and even on seedlings with only a few leaves showing above the ground ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
larva : full - fed 60 - - 85mm , width 12mm , horn 5mm . according to bell & scott ( 1937 ) , in the first instar head and body yellowish - green , dorsum of segments 2 to 4 dark green ; horn long , thick at base , tapering gently to a strongly bifid tip , the two arms thick at base and shortly conical , shiny black with small black tubercles . towards the end of this instar the whole body becomes pale grass - green . there are dorso - lateral eye - spots on segments 5 to 11 , that on 5 large , round , white with a crescent of black below ; these decreasing in size backwards , the white reduced in size in each successive eye - spot until it has disappeared altogether on that of 11 .
in the second instar , head orange , and an orange band along front margin of 2 ; rest of body yellowish - green . eye - spot on 5 nearly round , pupil enamel - white with a narrow crescent of purple below , the whole edged fairly broadly above and below , narrowly at sides , with black . remaining eye - spots smaller , longitudinally oval , colour the same as that on 5 , but the white pupil oval and oblique ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
in the third instar , segments 4 and 5 slightly tumid ; head grass - green ; body bluish - green dotted obscurely with yellow on 6 to 12 . there is a narrow , obscure , dark bluish - green dorsal stripe , and a faint - yellowish subdorsal stripe on 3 and 4 . a large round eye - spot is present on 5 , its pupil sap - green with broad yellow iris edged narrowly with dark green ; the pupil bears a longitudinal oval marking of electric - blue edged narrowly with paler blue , and within the yellow iris are two crescents , one at the top of electric - blue , and a purple one at the bottom . remaining eye - spots smaller , oval , the oblique , very pale blue pupil edged narrowly above with dark green , below by a purple crescent and then dark green . these eye - spots lying on obscure pale yellowish oblique stripes . horn long , thin , tapering gently to near tip where it thickens slightly to a bifid tip , the two arms shortly conical ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
by the fourth instar segments 4 and 5 much swollen ; head grass - green ; body pale grass - green covered with a chalk - like bloom , segments 6 to 11 with short thick grass - green stripes around the secondary rings ; a narrow dark green dorsal stripe is present . eye - spot on 5 large , nearly round , coloured as in the third instar , but the pupil of a darker shade ; other eye - spots smaller , elongate - oval , very oblique , lying at the same angle as the oblique lateral stripes , pale yellow with a crescent of purple below , the whole edged narrowly above and below with sap - green . the obscure yellowish oblique lateral stripes are interrupted by the oblique eye - spots , except that on 11 and 12 , which runs forwards and downwards from base of horn . horn long , thick at base , tapering evenly to tip , which is slightly , thickened ; basal two - thirds straight , distal third gently up - curved ; basal third orange , rest translucent pale green , surface shiny and covered with self - coloured , spine - like tubercles .
in the fifth and final instar , head with vertex depressed ; true clypeus between one - third and one - half length of head , triangular ; false clypeus hardly visible ; labrum and ligula large , ligula broad kidney - shaped ; surface of head smooth and dull . body smooth and dull , shaped as in others of the genus , with segment 5 much swollen . horn short , tapering gently to near tip , then abruptly to a blunt point , gently down - curved ; surface dull and sparsely tuberculate ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
there are also dark - coloured forms of the larva in which the green is replaced by pinkish - chocolate and dark chocolate , or by purplish ; the eye - spots are as above but darker in shade ; those on 6 to 11 sometimes indistinct ; horn brown with yellowish tip ; spiracles fuscous with a broad border of pale dull ochreous .
as with the eggs , the larva is also found close to the ground or among the thicker parts of the foliage , near the stem ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
pupa : 45 - - 60mm , width 13mm . colour of head , tongue - case and wing - case nearly black ; segments 2 and 3 dark wood - brown , 3 and dorsum of abdomen paler wood - brown . abdomen with a broad faint greenish dorsal stripe . sides bone - colour mottled and speckled with brown ; hind bevels of 8 to 10 greenish ; front bevels of 9 to 11 rusty ; 12 to 14 blackish ventrally , 13 and 14 also blackish dorsally ; venter pale with a narrow black ventral stripe ; spiracles and cremaster black , the tips of the teeth white ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
tongue - case projecting somewhat frontad and more ventrad , the edge flattened . antenna equal to fore leg , which reaches to more than one - half the distance to tip of wing - case , mid - leg to three - quarters that distance ; there is a narrow coxal piece . surface dull ; sides of tongue - case , head and thorax coarsely irregularly transversely corrugate ; with a very shallow palpal depression . costa of fore wing tumid and , together with the veins , set with lines of rounded tubercles . abdomen finely shagreened ; front bevels of 9 to 11 superficially pitted ; five narrow ante - spiracular ridges on 9 ; hind margin of 11 tumid and undercut , the front margin of 12 fitting into it telescopically . spiracle of 2 at the bottom of a very deep triangular depression ; remaining spiracles slightly convex ovals , the central slit widening at the ends and with a thick rim ( bell & scott , 1937 ) .
cremaster with the sides nearly parallel in basal half , then curving inwards , ending in two conical simply pointed diverging teeth , their bases touching ; dorsal surface convex and coarsely striate , ventral concave with an irregular mesial ridge . under the base of cremaster a deep funnel - shaped depression running forwards into 14 , the surface of the hollow very rugose .
in thailand , also recorded from polyalthia cerasoides ( eitschberger & ihle , 2010 ) .
china : shaanxi ( xi ' an ) ; yunnan ( changning co . , songzhishanding , 2800m ; gaoligong shan ) ; xizang / tibet ( xiachayu , zayu county ) ; fujian ( jianyang ) ; guangdong ( guangzhou ; nankunshan ) ; hong kong ; hainan .
from sri lanka and india , east through nepal ( haruta , 1992 ) , bangladesh and burma / myanmar to hong kong and taiwan , and south through thailand , laos and vietnam to peninsular malaysia and indonesia ( sumatra , java ) . the shaanxi record is well north of the rest of the known range of this species and probably represents a vagrant .
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shubhalaxmi , v , r c kendrick , alka vaidya , neelima kalagi , and alaka bhagwat . 2011 . inventory of moth fauna ( lepidoptera : heterocera ) of the northern western ghats , maharashtra , india . journal of the bombay … 108 , no . 3 : 183 - 205 . urltoken
enumerates geographic entities where the taxon lives . covers ranges , e . g . , a global range , or a narrower one ; may be biogeographical , political or other ( e . g . , managed areas like conservencies ) ; endemism ; native or exotic . does not include altitudinal distribution , which is covered under habitat .
inventory of moth fauna ( lepidoptera : heterocera ) of the northern western ghats , maharashtra , india .
notes on hawk moths ( lepidoptera — sphingidae ) in the karwar - dharwar transect , peninsular india : a . . .
a list of hawkmoth species ( lepidoptera : sphingidae ) of india , nepal , bhutan and sri lanka , incl . . .
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mell , r . 1922 , pp . xxii + 331 pp . , atlas 35 pls , 10 figs , 1 map , r . friedlander & son , berlin
walker , f . 1856 ,
sphingidae
, list of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the british museum , vol . 8 , pp . 1 - 271
butler , a . g . 1875 ,
descriptions of thirty - three new or little - known species of sphingidae in the collection of the british museum
, proceedings of the zoological society of london , vol . 1875 , pp . 3 - 16 , pls 1 - 2
austaut , l . 1892 ,
deux sphingides nouveaux de l ' asie orientale
, le naturaliste , vol . 1892 , pp . 68 , 69
butler , a . g . 1875 ,
descriptions of several new species of sphingidae
, proceedings of the zoological society of london , vol . 621 - 623
gehlen , b . 1941 ,
neue sphingiden
, entomologische zeitschrift , vol . 55 , no . 23 , pp . 185 - 186
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 49e4e523 - 4d71 - 4a1b - b1b8 - 1628d0f3d2f6
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 6e219979 - 6cbe - 45b8 - 8dc1 - d7e4e45db884
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : f9f3295c - 092b - 42a3 - 8703 - 237b21ae687c
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . name : 405572
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transferred to centroctena by rothschild & jordan , 1903 , novit . zool . 9 ( suppl . ) : 790
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it is approx 1 . 5 inch ( 3 cm to 4 . 5 cm ) long
just few hours ago ( around night 10 to 10 . 30 pm local time ) , this insect entered into our home , flying in high - speed and hitting to wall , objects , and to us . to keep it calm we turned the room - light off . then it became steady on my father ' s shirt even after the light again turned on , and it was a beautiful moth - like insect . after taking photo it gently freed out of the room .
p . s . i ' ve very very little - experience in practical - zoology , however after few hours google search it seems to match with those moths tagged as
hawk - moths
, and another notable feature when it was flying it looked like a hummingbird or a small bird , that was written in the description of some
hawk - moths
in different sites . initially we ' re taking time to decide whether it is an insect or a bird .
it looks like urltoken urltoken , ; urltoken , urltoken , and urltoken . etc .
if i able to identify it by someone , i ' ll upload it here . thanks .
it is differs from t . oldenlandiae in being very much paler in color and with white line down center of abdomen .
while my final answer is the brown - banded hunter hawkmoth , below are the original two species i suspected it was and why . i ' ve included them below simply for reference / alternative comparisons .
your specimen exhibits pink suffusion , especially on the back edge of the fore wing .
for these two reasons i think it is not the impatiens hawkmoth and thought it was more likely the . . .
this still doesn ' t explain the double vs . single white stripe along the upper abdomen . which is why i know believe it is the . . .
as an aside , this could be an example of polymorphism vs . identifying characters . welcome to the world of taxonomic lumpers and splitters . . .
thanks . also i don ' t know , how - frequent posting of identification question is considered as ok , ( i . e . is there any limit on it ) in this se community , however i posted this - one because this - insect was very surprising to us . . . it looked like a tiny bird when it was flying .
no problem at all . i think as long as you do not spam posts you should be in the clear ( although i ' m not the final say in the matter ) . as for confusing a moth for a bird , you aren ' t the first one ! this moth in the same sphingidae family was posted just last week ! and thank you to your post ! very clear picture of the moth with a good explanation
this page gave me the clue , and the link to the page above . like i said , i ' m not an entomologist : )
probably this one you ' re telling about urltoken . however our - one contains very bold long mark on back . however like our - one , yours also contain the black dot on 2 wings .
@ dgruenewald i think you ' re right . go ahead and write up an answer .
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need help to identify a bug location : bangalore , india august 22 , 2011 7 : 39 am i took snaps of this bug which was sitting on my terrace . i found the shape of the wing very interesting , so i would appreciate if you could help me identifying this . signature : rajesh ranjan
my friend’s moth looking very smiliar posted on inw was identified by dr . ian kitching , nhm , uk urltoken
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they are often considered a pest on both busy lizzie ( impatiens wallerana ) and fuchsias ( fuchsia sp . ) . caterpillars of this species have also been seen feeding on arum lily ( zantedeschia aethiopica ) , argentine trumpet vine ( clytostoma callistegioides ) , climbing guinea flower ( hibbertia scandens ) , billy goat plum ( planchonia careya ) , godetia ( clarkia amoena ) , star cluster ( pentas lanceolata ) , australian native violet ( viola hederacea ) and slender grape ( cayratia clematidea ) . the larvae are black with yellow dots , they have a small spine on their tails and use it as a mimicked head . before pupating the caterpillar will reach a length of about 70 mm .
the adult is brown with light brown stripes down the thorax . the stripes are mimicked on the inner margin of the forewing .


the desert musk shrew ( crocidura smithii ) is a species of mammal in the family soricidae .

it is found in ethiopia , senegal , and possibly somalia .

its natural habitat is dry savanna .

desert musk shrew

the desert musk shrew is listed as least concern . does not qualify for a more at risk category . widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category , on the iucn red list of threatened species
desertusa is a comprehensive resource about the north american deserts and southwest destinations . learn about desert biomes while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the harsh desert environment . find travel information about national parks , state parks , blm land , and southwest cities and towns located in or near the desert regions of the united states . access maps and information about the sonoran desert , mojave desert , great basin desert , and chihuahuan desert .
communication : the desert shrew often leads a solitary , nocturnal existence , and its processes of communication with potential mates or adversaries are little understood . if threatened the animal , like other shrew species , emits a foul odor from musk glands on its hindquarters , presumably warning would - be predators that it is not a desirable meal . it may also use the glands to mark territory .
the desert shrew ' s major predator is the owl , a nocturnal hunter with a weak sense of smell ( hence it is presumably not bothered by the shrew ' s foul musk gland odor ) . although the shrew has lost habitat in some areas and is regarded as a threatened species in mexico , it is listed as a species of
least concern
by the international union for conservation of nature and natural resources :
there are no major threats to the widespread species .
appearance : although the desert shrew looks something like a house mouse , it is only about a fourth the size . it has a more narrow and elongated snout . the desert shrew feeds primarily on insects , while the mouse consumes primarily plant material . the shrew has 28 teeth with sharp pincerlike incisors and single cusp molars that are suitable for catching and chewing its prey . the mouse has 16 teeth with incisors designed for gnawing on plant and other material . the shrew has five clawed digits on its feet , the mouse , four .
desert adaptations : as a species , the desert shrew has developed specialized behavioral and biological adaptations to life in an arid environment , oftentimes without a free source of water for prolonged periods . their primary source of moisture is their food . they are idle during the heat of the day , saving energy and water . biologically , the desert shrew has a lower metabolic rate than other shrews , reducing its water requirements , and it has highly efficient kidneys and a specially adapted respiratory system , which minimize its water losses .
in 16th century england , the word
shrew
often referred to an evil - tempered person , typically a woman , which led shakespeare to write
the taming of the shrew .
the desert , or crawford ' s gray , shrew belongs to the broadly distributed taxonomic family called
soricidae ,
which includes some 250 species of shrews worldwide and more than 30 species in the united states and canada .
head : in addition to its pointed snout , the desert shrew has tiny eyes and conspicuous rounded ears . it has long tactile bristles on its muzzle , giving it a means for feeling its way through passageways in total darkness .
adult size and weight : an adult desert shrew measures an inch or two in length , with its tail accounting for half its length . it weighs about 0 . 1 to 0 . 2 ounces , approximately as much as a copper penny .
the desert shrew ranges across much of the southwest quarter of the united states and the northernmost states of mexico . somewhat misnamed , it occupies a range of habitats well beyond desert basin scrubs and sand dunes , including various shrublands , prairie grasslands , streamside wetlands and mountain flank forestlands . in lower elevations , they may habitate in relatively humid locations such as in burrows or under rocks .
the desert shrew may eat prey at once or cache it for later . if it attacks a grasshopper , for instance , it may bite off the legs and bite into the head , leaving the segmented and now immobilized body alive and fresh for later consumption . if it attacks a scorpion , the shrew will nip off the stinger before disabling and eating the creature .
the desert shrew , say davis and schmidly in the mammals of texas ,
is thought to feed largely on both larval and adult insects ; captive specimens have eaten a wide variety of food including mealworms , cutworms , crickets , cockroaches , houseflies , grasshoppers , moths , beetles , earwigs , centipedes , the carcasses of skinned small mammals and birds , and dead lizards .
because of its lower metabolic rate , the desert shrew consumes relatively less food –only about 75 percent of its body weight per day – than many other shrews .
by comparison , the egyptians believed the shrew to be the spirit of darkness , likely because of its quick and aggressive predation , voracious appetite and pugnacious nature .
the zuni people , said schmidt , regard the shrew as a
beast god ,
which provides
protection for stored grains from raids by rats and mice .
the desert shrew , specially adapted to an arid environment , is the smallest of the mammals of our southwestern deserts . it is also one of the smallest homeotherms in the world . ( a homeotherm is an animal , like a human , for instance , that maintains its body temperature within a narrow range , independent of the surrounding environment . by comparison , an endotherm is an animal , like a snake , that maintains its body temperature by absorbing heat from the surrounding environment . )
coat and color : the shrew , with a short dense coat , has a grayish brown back , sides and head , and it has a light gray belly , throat , legs and paws . its tail is darker on top than on the bottom .
the shrew ' s courtship and mating practices are largely unknown . the breeding season may range from spring to fall , or all year . the male and female build a nest of shredded plant materials in a secluded spot such as a packrat midden or a dead agave , and about three weeks after mating , the femaie gives birth to three to five naked and pink offspring , each about as big as a pinto bean . for the first two or three weeks , she nurses her charges , able to produce milk although she has not had access to water . she then changes them over to regurgitated prey , then to live prey . at about five to six weeks the juveniles will reach adult size , leave the nest and parental care and begin an independent life . the mother may produce another litter in the course of the year . typically , the desert shrew will live for about a year or , possibly , two in the wild .
like shrews , the hummingbird – the lilliputian of the bird world – also has an extremely high metabolic rate , with a resting heart rate of perhaps 500 beats per minute . it has been suggested that if human beings burned energy at the same rate , relatively , as a shrew or a hummingbird , our body temperatures would rise so high we could erupt in flame .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
gland , switzerland , 5 july 2018 ( iucn ) – australia’s unique reptiles – including lizards and snakes – face severe threats from invasive species and climate change , with 7 % of th . . .
the value of medicinal and aromatic plant trade has increased three - fold in the past 20 years , but traditional harvesting practices are being replaced by less sustainable alternatives . . . .
a recently released iucn technical brief recommends increasing investments in sustainable land management practices , as well as better cooperation between agriculturalists and conservationists to conse . . .
there are two very isolated populations which may be distinct at the species level .
justification : listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution , presumed large population , and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category . more research is needed on the taxonomy of this species .
crocidura smithii occurs in arid regions of senegal , ethiopia and possibly somalia ( where suitable habitat exists ) . the two known populations are distinct subspecies that are extremely isolated from one another .
the natural history of this species is not well known . c . smithii has been recorded from dry sahelian savanna .
there are no direct conservation measures in place for this species . it is not known if the species is present within any protected areas . additional details are needed on the natural history of this species and its possible presence in somalia .
this errata assessment has been created because the map was accidentally left out of the version published previously .
( errata version published in 2017 ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2016 : e . t41358a115181556 .
to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .
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picture has been licensed under a creative commons attribution sharealike license original source : base map derived from file : blankmap - world . png . distribution data from iucn red list author : chermundy
mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference , 2nd ed . , 3rd printing
mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference , 3rd ed . , vols . 1 & 2
with contributions by bernadette n . graham , adam p . potter , and mariana m . upmeyer
comments : revised by hutterer ( 1986a ) . specimens reported from somalia by heim de balsac ( 1966a ) represent macarthuri ; see under that species . includes debalsaci as a distinct subspecies ; see hutterer ( 1981b )
disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
confused by a class within a class or an order within an order ? please see our brief essay .
to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
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senses : equipped only with poor vision , the animal relies , like a bat , on echolocation , emitting high pitches squeaks and interpreting the echoes to determine the direction and distance of objects such as potential prey . it also uses its highly developed senses of hearing and smell to locate and track down prey .
robert h . schmidt , assistant professor , department of fisheries and wildlife utah state university , internet center for wildlife damage management .
kerry r . foresman , the wild mammals of montana , special publication no . 12 , american society of mammalogists , published 8 june 2001 .
william b . davis and david j . schmidly , the mammals of texas - online edition , 1997 texas tech university .
randall d . babb , arizona wildlife views ,
a penny ' s worth of terror ,
march–april 2009 .
david allen , university of michigan museum of zoology animal diversity web , national science digital library .
desertusa newsletter - - we send articles on hiking , camping and places to explore , as well as animals , wildflower reports , plant information and much more . sign up below or read more about the desertusa newsletter here . ( it ' s free . )
the female black widow spider is the most venomous spider in north america , but it seldom causes death to humans , because it only injects a very small amount of poison when it bites .
the bobcat despite its pussycat appearance when seen in repose , the bobcat is quite fierce and is equipped to kill animals as large as deer . however , food habit studies have shown bobcats subsist on a diet of rabbits , ground squirrels , mice , pocket gophers and wood rats . join us as we watch this sleepy bobcat show his teeth .
the mountain lion the mountain lion , also known as the cougar , panther or puma , is the most widely distributed cat in the americas . it is unspotted - - tawny - colored above overlaid with buff below . it has a small head and small , rounded , black - tipped ears . watch one in this video .
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ophthalmitis rufilauta is a moth in the geometridae family .

it is found in borneo in lowland and lower montane rainforests .

the species is distinguished by the brown shading between the hindwing antemedial line and the discal mark .

ophthalmitis rufilauta

ophthalmitis rufilauta ; [ mob11 ] : 228 , f . 455 , 466 , pl . 15
ophthalmitis clararia ; [ mob11 ] : 227 , f . 458 , pl . 15
ophthalmitis punctifascia ; [ mob11 ] : 228 , f . 463 , pl . 15
ophthalmitis exemptaria ; [ mob11 ] : 230 , f . 457 , pl . 15
ophthalmitis pertusaria ; sato , 1995 , trans . lepid . soc . japan 46 ( 4 ) : 225
ophthalmitis viridior holloway , 1993 ; [ mob11 ] : 228 , f . 462 , pl . 15 ; tl : sarawak , gunung mulu nat . park
ophthalmitis cordularioides holloway , 1993 ; [ mob11 ] : 229 , f . 461 , pl . 15 ; tl : sarawak , gunung mulu nat . park
ophthalmitis satoi holloway , 1993 ; [ mob11 ] : 229 , f . 460 , pl . 15 ; tl : sarawak , gunung mulu nat . park
ophthalmitis basiscripta holloway , 1993 ; [ mob11 ] : 230 , f . 464 , pl . 15 ; tl : sarawak , gunung mulu nat . park
ophthalmitis variegata holloway , 1993 ; [ mob11 ] : 227 , f . 424 , 459 , pl . 15 ; tl : sarawak , gunung mulu nat . park
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an unbranched vein thought to have resulted from the fusion of anal veins 1a and 2a into a single vein . it is the most posterior vein on the forewing in many moths and is located near the posterior margin . this is the common state in the superfamily noctuoidea .
the third and posterior - most tagma ( body region ) of an insect . the ancestral abdomen is believed to have consisted of 11 segments , though most modern insects have fewer .
the male copulatory organ . characteristics of the aedeagus are often used to separate and identify species . the aedeagus is not visible without dissection .
the posterolateral corner of the wing , where the posterior and outer margins meet .
a longitudinal , unbranched vein that extends from the base of the insect wing to the outer margin . the most posterior of the longitudinal veins of a wing .
a sclerotized supporting structure that surrounds the base of the aedeagus . the anellus is modified in a few moth species and can be useful for identification ( see lacinipolia pensilis and l . vicina ) .
the portion of the wing that is located between the basal and antemedial lines .
a thin transverse line found on the basal third of the forewing , between the median and basal lines . this line is located medial to the orbicular and claviform spots when these are present . in the noctuoidea this line is often double , with the darkest and thickest component bordering the median area , and zigzag in shape .
the
head
end of an organism , as opposed to the posterior or
tail
end of an organism .
refers to a part of a structure at the furthest distance from the base .
a part of the internal female genitalia . the portion of the corpus bursae that is not connected to the ductus bursae in species in which the bursa copulatrix is bilobed .
the point of an appendage closest to its attachment to the body . sometimes referred to as proximal .
a typically short and broad line at the mid - basal area of the forewing .
a transverse line extending across the forewing near its base . the most basal of the forewing transverse lines . this line is usually present on the anterior half of the wing , and is darker than the surrounding wing in most moths .
resembling a string of beads . usually referring to an antenna . the mid - portion of each segment of a beaded antenna is slightly expanded .
a structure with comb - like or teeth - like structures on both sides . usually referring to an antenna . each segment of a bipectinate antenna has elongate distal processes .
sawlike or toothed on both sides of a structure . usually referring to an antenna . each segment of a biserrate antenna is triangular in shape .
the immatures that hatch from eggs laid by a single female at the same time .
a membranous pouch of the female genital system that receives the intromittent organ ( aedeagus ) of the male during copulation . it is usually divided into a posterior sclerotized tube ( the posterior ductus bursae ) and an anterior membranous sac ( the corpus bursae ) . the bursa copulatrix is useful for identification purposes but is not visible without dissection
a portion of a wing that is surrounded by veins . for example , discal cells are large cells found on both wings of many moths , including all of the species that are included on this site .
a movable sclerotized structure located on the medial surface of the male valve , usually near its mid - point . the shape of the clasper can be useful for identification .
an elongate spot or mark extending laterally from the antemedial line through the median area , toward and sometimes reaching the postmedial line . this spot is usually darker than the surrounding wing , often black .
a covering of silk or silk incorporated with other materials such as pieces of leaves and twigs that covers the pupa .
neck ,
a structure between the head and the thorax . in the noctuoidea this term refers to the arched array of scales of the dorsal prothorax . the collar is often in a contrasting color from the head and remaining thorax and is frequently striped with dark transverse lines
a slender , heavily sclerotized spine or spines on the surface of the vesica of the male aedeagus . these structures are useful for identification , but are not visible without dissection .
a row of mesially - directed claw - like sclerotized setae located on the cucullus of the male valve . used for grasping the female during mating .
the membranous pouch of the female genital system . a spermatophore is deposited into the corpus bursae by the male during mating . the corpus bursae attaches to the anterior end of the ductus bursae and can be single ( unisaccate ) or be divided ( bisaccate ) . the ductus seminales attaches to the corpus bursae . the shape of the corpus bursae is often useful for identification , but is not visible without dissection .
refers to a species that is found throughout all or most of the world , in the appropriate habitat .
with activity periods at dusk and / or dawn . many frequently - seen moths , such as the white - lined sphinx moth ( hyles lineata ) , are crepuscular .
cubital - anal vein 1 . generally arising from the distal cubitus vein and extending to the margin . this vein arises near the posterior end of the discal cell in most members of the noctuoidea .
cubital - anal vein 2 . generally arising approximately midway on the wing cubitus vein and extending to the outer margin .
also called the cubitus . a wing vein arising approximately at the middle of the base of the wing and extending ( branched or unbranched ) to the wing margin . this vein forms the posterior boundary of the discal cell in the noctuoidea .
the terminal part of the valve in male genitalia . this structure is often broadened and may bear one or more rows of claw - like setae forming a structure called a corona .
a sclerotized , usually elongate , structure located on the distal third of the valve of the male genitalia of some moths . the presence of a digitus and its shape are useful for identification .
a broad contrastingly - colored spot found at the end of the discal cell in some moths . the forewing discal spot is usually referred to as the reniform spot in noctuid moths .
the process of removing certain internal organs - usually the male and female genitalia - from an insect specimen , in order to examine their structure .
active during daylight . unlike butterflies , which are diurnal , most moths are active at night and referred to as nocturnal . a few moth species are strictly diurnal and have adaptations to daytime flight , such as brightly - colored hindwings and reduced eye - size ( ellipsoid eyes ) .
refers to the back or the upper side of an organism . for example , a dorsal view would be looking at the animal from above .
the duct in the female genital system that extends from the ostium bursa to the bursa copulatrix . this structure is commonly sclerotized . the ductus bursae cannot be observed without dissection .
oblong , oval , with equally rounded ends . commonly refers to reduced eye - size in day - flying moths . the eyes appear small and oval when viewed from the front , rather than large and hemispherical as in most night - flying species . in most of these day - flying species , the sum of the width of the eyes is less than the width of the frons between them .
convex , with the apex of the curve directed toward the outer margin . usually refers to the shape of a wing marking .
bent or curved , sickle - shaped . this adjective is commonly applied to the apex of the forewing .
the third segment of the insect leg . often a large and elongate segment , sometimes with some ornamentation or identifying structures .
a projecting ridge or collar that provides support . a flange is present on the tips of the ovipositor lobes ( papillae anales ) of some female moths , likely as an adaptation for laying eggs in hard soil .
a term traditionally used for a longitudinal part of the posterior forewing of moths in the superfamily noctuoidea that is bordered anteriorly by the cubital vein and its branch cua2 and posteriorly by 1a + 2a . this area lacks supporting veins and is therefore relatively weak . it is sometimes colored differently than the surrounding areas ( usually paler ) and contains the claviform spot and / or median dash when these markings are present .
the front wing of an insect . the wing attached to the second thoracic segment ( the mesothorax ) . characteristics of the forewing are often important in identification .
the scales , setae , or hairs that extend beyond the edge of a wing membrane .
the area of the face that is dorsal to ( above ) the antennae .
a raised , sclerotized structure arising from the frons of many moth species . this structure is thought to be used to escape from underground after hatching from the pupa , and is most commonly found in species that live in arid environments . the frontal tubercle has been lost secondarily in some species that pupate in sand .
the sexual organs , including associated structures . characters of the genitalia are often used for identification purposes . some structures of the genitalia are visible in intact specimens , but most characters require dissection for visualization .
long , paired , brush - like pheromone - emitting organs located at the base of the ventral abdomen in males of some moth species .
a rod - shaped sclerotized structure on the mesial valve of the male genitalia of some moths , arising from the dorsal distal sacculus . the shape of the harpe - especially in relation to the saccular extension - is useful for identification in the genus euxoa .
one of the second pair of wings that is attached to the third segment of the thorax ( the metathorax ) .
the zoogeographic region that includes most of the northern hemisphere - africa north of the sahara desert , north america including the northern two - thirds of mexico , all of europe , and asia south to the himalayan mountains . the holarctic is divided into the nearctic and palearctic .
( plural : larvae ) . the immature stage between the egg and the pupa . in moths , usually referred to as a caterpillar .
the insect leg consists of a series of segments . starting from most basal they are the coxa , trochanter , femur , tibia , and tarsus .
medial vein one , the most anterior branch of the medial vein . on the forewing of the noctuoidea , this vein extends from the anterior end of the discal cell to the outer margin , between r5 and m2 .
medial vein two , the second branch of the medial vein . on the forewings of the noctuoidea , this vein extends from the posterior end of the discal cell to the outer margin , between veins m1 and m3 .
medial vein three , the third branch of the medial vein . on the forewing of the noctuoidea , this vein extends from the posterior end of the discal cell near the cubitus vein to the outer margin , between veins m2 and cua1 .
a dark , broad , band along the outer margin of the hindwing . this term is usually reserved for a broad marking that is much darker than the ground color , or has a sharply - defined medial margin .
the portion of the wing between the antemedial and postmedial lines . technically , this area includes the median and postmedial areas , but this distinction is rarely made because these areas are usually colored similarly .
a thickened , short line located medially in the lower half of the forewing .
a , transverse line located in the median area of the forewing , usually near the mid - wing . the median line is typically darker than the surrounding wing , single , thicker and less well - defined than the other transverse lines in the noctuoidea .
a longitudinal vein between the radius and cubitus . the portion of this vein proximal to the end of the cell of the forewing has been lost during the course of evolution in the moths included on this site , but its distal branches extend from the end of the cell to the outer margin .
toward the midline . a synonym of basal , and the opposite of lateral and distal .
a subregion of the holarctic zoogeographic region that includes north america , the northern two - thirds of mexico and greenland .
the zoogeographic region that includes southern mexico , central america , the west indies , and south america .
a common name used for most members of the families erebidae , euteliidae , nolidae , and noctuidae , but usually excluding the subfamilies arctiinae and lymantriinae of the erebidae . this common name is based on the fact that these moths were arranged together in the family noctuidae until recently . synonymous with owlet moth .
active at night . most moths are active at night and are referred to as nocturnal .
a term that refers to the presence of a central dark spot ( pupil ) within another spot . usually used for the orbicular spot of noctuid moths .
a round or oval spot located in the middle of the discal cell of the forewing , between the antemedial and median lines . this spot is present in most noctuid moths . the outline of the spot is usually darker than the surrounding wing and its center may contain a darker spot called an ocellus .
the posterior external opening of the female ductus bursae which receives the male intromittent organ ( aedeagus ) during copulation . the ostium bursae is located at the ventral aspect of the posterior eighth abdominal segment .
the egg - laying structure of the female . often a cylindrical tube used to deposit eggs in specific locations .
a pair of sclerotized processes at the posterior apex of the female abdomen used to deposit eggs . these are most often conical and are often covered by short or hair - like setae , but can be modified in shape or bear additional flanges or other structures . these are the only part of the female genitalia that are visible without dissection . also called papillae anales .
a common name used for most members of the families erebidae , euteliidae , nolidae , and noctuidae , but usually excluding the subfamilies arctiinae and lymantriinae of the erebidae . this common name is based on the fact that these moths were arranged in the family noctuidae until recently . synonymous with noctuid moth .
the zoogeographic region that is the old world part of the holarctic region . it includes africa north of the sahara desert , all of europe , and asia north of the himalayan mountains
a pair of sclerotized processes at the posterior apex of the female abdomen , used to deposit eggs . these are most often conical , and are often covered by short or hair - like setae , but can be modified in shape or bear additional flanges or other structures . these are the only part of the female genitalia that are visible without dissection . also referred to as ovipositors or ovipositor lobes .
a lobe - like structure arising from the prothorax that overlaps the base of the forewing . see tegula .
with branches or tooth - like structures . often referring to an antenna or the tarsal claws .
a graph depicting the seasonal pattern of capture dates of a species , with the date on the x - axis and number of records on the y - axis .
the life history or life cycle of an organism as it relates to development over time within a single generation or several generations over a season .
a thumb - like ventral projection from the distal valve of some moths in the tribe noctuini - notably in the genus xestia . this structure resembles a digitus but is considered to be separately derived .
the
tail
end of an organism , as opposed to the anterior or
head
end of an organism .
the hind margin of the forewing , opposite the costal margin . also referred to as the trailing margin .
a thin , transverse line located lateral to the discal spot , typically on distal third of the forewing . this line is usually darker than the surrounding wing . it is often double , with a darker medial component , and is scalloped between the veins in the noctuoidea . the portion of this line lateral to the discal spot is usually convex toward the outer margin ( excurved ) .
an abdominal leg found on lepidoptera larvae . they are fleshy legs that occur in pairs , with rows of hooked spines at the tip called crochets .
near to the body or the base of an organism , as opposed to distal .
the stage between larva and adult in insects with complete or holometabolous metamorphosis . it is a non - feeding and non - mobile stage that , in moths , is often surrounded by a cocoon .
a term that describes a specific branching pattern of the hindwing veins , in which the distal cubitus vein appears to have four branches : m2 , m3 , cua1 , and cua2 . this branching pattern is present in the family erebidae and some subfamilies of the noctuidae ( which are referred to as
quadrifid noctuids
) . see trifid .
a comb - like structure consisting of four projections per unit . usually refers to an antenna .
a branched vein located near the anterior margin of the wing . this vein typically has five branches , numbered r1 - r5 , in the noctuoidea .
a broad c - shaped or kidney - shaped discal spot found at the end of the discal cell in some moths . this spot is usually outlined in a dark color and filled with a lighter color .
a distal , spine - like process of the ventral sacculus of the male genitalia , typically found in the genus euxoa of the noctuidae . the ends of the saccular extensions can often be observed without dissection if the scales are removed from the distal abdomen .
a flattened , cuticular extension that covers the body and wings of members of the order lepidoptera (
lepidos
means
scale
in greek ) . these scales are often overlapping and contain pigment , providing for the distinctive color patterns found on the wings .
hardened . usually referring to a section of the exoskeleton or a specific structure that is hardened as opposed to soft and membranous .
( plural : setae ) a hair - like projection of the epidermis or living layer of the exoskeleton .
a moveable spine . often refers to an enlarged or otherwise modified spine on the legs of some moths .
a dark band located near the margin of the hindwing of some moths . differs from a marginal band in that a submarginal band does not extend to the outer margin .
a spot located in the median area posterior to (
below
) the reniform spot in a few noctuid moths . examples are found in papaipema and catocala .
the portion of the wing that is located between the postmedial and subterminal lines .
a thin , often zigzag or patterned , transverse line situated near the distal end of the forewing between the postmedial and terminal lines . it is single , usually paler than the wing ground color , and often preceded by a dark shade or wedge - like spots in the noctuoidea .
in insects and other arthropods , a group of segments that have become fused to form a functional unit ( body region ) . for example , an insect body is composed of three tagmata : the head , thorax , and abdomen .
the fifth and final leg segment , distal to the tibia . often consists of several segments and ends with a pair of claws .
a small , flap - like structure that overlaps the base of the forewing . this structure is colored or patterned differently from the forewings and / or thorax in some moths .
referring to the end of a structure that is farthest from its base of attachment .
a thin , transverse line situated at the margin of the forewing , at the base of the fringe . this line is often comprised of a series of dark spots between the veins in many members of the noctuoidea
the second , or middle , tagma of an insect . an insect is composed of three tagmata : the head , thorax , and abdomen . the thorax itself is composed of three segments called the prothorax , mesothorax , and metathorax . the wings and legs of moths are attached to the thorax .
the fourth segment of the insect leg . often a large and elongate segment with some ornamentation or identifying structures .
a common name for the species in the tribe arctiinae of the erebidae , many of which are boldy - patterned with bright colors .
the posterior margin of the wing , opposite the costal margin . also called the posterior margin .
a term that describes a specific branching pattern of the hindwing veins , in which the distal cubitus vein appears to have three branches : m3 , cua1 , and cua2 . this branching pattern is present in many subfamilies of the noctuidae ( which are referred to as
trifid noctuids
) . see quadrifid .
a group or bunch of setae arising from a group of very closely associated bases .
a common name for the species in the subfamily lymantriinae of the erebidae . this name refers to the hair pencils and tufts that are found on many larvae in this subfamily .
a long , hook - shaped midline process of the tegumen ( the dorsal distal abdominal segment ) present in many male moths that is used to hold the female during mating . its shape is sometimes useful for identification .
in males , the broad paired paddle - like organs developed from the lateral ninth abdominal segment . the valves are articulated at the base , and are used to grasp the end of the female abdomen during mating they are typically modified in shape and bear additional structures , such as the clasper , digitus , and corona . the valve structure is often important for identification and their ends are usually visible without dissection after brushing the scales from the tip of the abdomen .
refers to the belly , or underside of an organism . for example , a ventral view would be looking at the animal from below .
the membranous , terminal part of the aedeagus . the vesica is collapsed inside the aedeagus prior to mating , and is everted inside the female during copulation . it is visible only after dissection , and must be inflated in order to observe its shape .
the production of a certain number of generations by a species during a given year . for example , univoltine , bivoltine , or multivoltine are categories of voltinism . while most species are restricted in the number of generations that they produce during a year , the number of generations sometimes varies , depending on geographic location or the favorable weather of a given year .
a relatively common sideways w - shaped feature of the subterminal line in many species of noctuid moths , in which the line is zig - zagged , with teeth extend to or near the outer margin on veins m3 and cua1 .
an old or otherwise damaged moth specimen , from which many of the scales have been lost . worn specimens are more difficult to identify than fresh ones .
forbes wtm . 1954 . lepidoptera of new york and neighboring states . cornell university agricultural experiment station . memoir 329 . 433 pp .
gordh , g . and d . h . headrick . 2001 . a dictionary of entomology . cabi publishing , new york , ny . ix + 1032 pp . ( 2010 addition available )
triplehorn , c . a . and n . f johnson . 2005 . borror and delongâ€™s introduction to the study of insects , seventh edition . thomson books / cole . belmont , ca . x + 864 pp .
this work is licensed under a creative commons attribution - noncommercial - sharealike 4 . 0 international license
this species is best distinguished by the brown shading between the hindwing antemedial and the discal mark . there is brown suffusion elsewhere particularly in association with the fasciae ; the fasciae are rather weakly defined on the forewing . in the male genitalia the valves have three spur - like processes : central , basal ; distal , saccular ; subcostal , central .
sumatran material has the male genitalia distinct : the saccular process is more distal , longer : the uncus is more robust , the apical portion shorter , blunter ; the aedeagus has a massive lateral spine . in the female the sterigma is more complex , more heavily sclerotised . the differences are such as to indicate specific status . peninsular malaysian material may be more referable to that from sumatra .
the majority of specimens taken in recent surveys were from lowland rainforest , the highest being a male from 1000m in the lower montane forest zone of g . mulu and a female from 1200m on g . kinabalu .
ophthalmodes herbidaria guenée , 1857 ; hist . nat . ins . , spec . gén . lépid . 9 : 283 ; tl : india
ophthalmodes punctifascia holloway , 1976 ; moths of borneo with special reference to mt . kinabalu : 81
borneo , sumatra , singapore , peninsular malaysia ( penang ) . see [ maps ]
boarmia pertusaria felder & rogenhofer , 1875 ; reise fregatte novara , bd 2 ( abth . 2 ) ( 5 ) : pl . 125 , f . 17
[ maps ] warning ! the maps are automatically generated from the textual information , and the process does not always produce acceptable result ; see about maps for more info .
histoire naturelle des insectes . species général des lépidoptéres . volume 9 . uranides et phalénites
( uranides & phalenides ) : pl . 1 - 10 , ( uranides ) pl . 1 ( 1858 ) ,
( uranides , phalenides , siculides ) : pl . 12 - 22 , ( 1858 ) pl .
reise der österreichischen fregatte novara um die erde in den jahren 1857 , 1858 , 1859 unter den behilfen des commodore b . von wüllerstorf - urbair . zoologischer theil . band 2 . abtheilung 2 . lepidoptera . rhopalocera
- 120 , ( inhalts - verz . ) 1 - 9 ( pl . 1 - 74 ) , ( felder & rogenhofer , 1874 ) , ( 5 ) : pl .
warren , 1900 new genera and species of drepanulidae , thyrididae , epiplemidae and geometridae from the indo - australian and palaearctic regions novit . zool . 7 : 98 - 116
if you have corrections , comments or information to add into these pages , just send mail to markku savela keep in mind that the taxonomic information is copied from various sources , and may include many inaccuracies . expert help is welcome .
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malaysia , n borneo , sabah , keningau distr . , ivo trus madi mt . , 1150 m . , lower montane dipterocarp forest .
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