The Aventiinae, Boletobiinae, Eublemminae, Pangraptinae, Phytometrinae, and Scolecocampinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Erebidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A.
Author
Pogue, Michael G.
text
Zootaxa
2012
3153
1
31
journal article
45706
10.5281/zenodo.279582
155cefd2-7fbd-4482-9f7d-bcc96d645bb7
1175-5326
279582
4.
Metalectra richardsi
Brower, 1941
Richards’ Fungus Moth
(
Figs. 6–7
, Map 5)
Identification.
Forewing length 7.0–9.0 mm.
Metalectra richardsi
is the smallest species of this genus in the Park. The forewing ground color is reddish brown with a broad, black medial line from costa to posterior margin. Antemedial line is a thin, white crenulate band that is bordered distally by a broken line of black scales. Postmedial line is a jagged, slightly sinuate line of black scales. Subterminal line is a thin, white, S-shaped band from costa to middle of forewing. Terminal line is a series of fairly prominent black triangles that are connected giving a wavy appearance to the line.
Hind
wing is dissimilar to forewing. Ground color is gray with a black discal bar, short white bar in anal area, and wavy black terminal line. Fringe is reddish brown with some black spots, especially in middle of wing. The small size, reddish-brown forewing color, and the hind wing being dissimilar in pattern to forewing will distinguish
M. richardsi
from other
Metalectra
species in the Park.
Flight period.
Mid May to mid August.
Collected localities.
North Carolina: Swain Co.: Big Cove Rd., site b, site p, site w;
0.5 km
from mouth of Chambers Creek
300 feet
up hillside on NW side;
0.7 km
up creek from mouth of Goldmine Creek;
300 feet
above lake on Welch Ridge. Tennessee: Blount Co.: Cades Cove Ranger Station; Foothills Parkway West at E end; Cocke Co.: Cosby Ranger Station; Foothills Parkway, south overlook; Foothills Parkway, at
I-40
; Foothills Parkway East; Foothills Parkway East,
1.3 mi
N of 321. (
26 specimens
)
Elevation range.
1001–2400 ft
. (
305–732 m
)
General distribution.
This is an eastern species distributed from Massachusetts, south to Florida, and west to Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Larval hosts.
Unknown, but probably fungi (
Covell 1984
).
MAP 5.
Collecting localities of
Metalectra richardsi
.