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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Gelechiidae
59a0629.1 – 1687   Monochroa plutella (Chambers, 1874)

DNA (BOLD:ABW6361) - AZ © C. Melton
Distribution: Syntype: Texas, probably Waco (USNM).
Description/
Field Marks:
There are 4 BIN groups at BOLD (BOLD:AAM8607, BOLD:AAG5281, BOLD:AAG5281, BOLD:ADR2638) relating to this species, all in the same branch of the barcode tree. DNA barcode separates all by over 2.5% inferring the possibility of at least four good species. Those in BOLD:ABW6361 (Arizona) seem to match Megacraspedus exilis Walsingham, 1909 (TL: Guerrero, Mexico). Pending further clarification, all are treated here as plutella.
Similar Species:
  • Megacraspedus exilis Walsingham, 1909.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • plutella (Chambers, 1874) (Neda) N. COMB. - MONA 1983: 1687
      Type locality: Syntype: Texas, probably Waco (USNM).
  • Taxonomic Notes: Monochroa plutella (Chambers, 1874), n. comb., was formerly in the genus Megacraspedus (Lee & Landry in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023). USNM specimens of plutella have been misplaced and the true identity cannot at present be verified (Sangmi Lee, pers. comm., 2024).
    References
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:AAM8607 (TX) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification.
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:ABW6361 (exilis? - AZ) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification.
    • Chambers, V.T., 1874. Tineina from Texas. The Canadian Entomologist, 6: 244.
    • Pohl, G. R. and S. R. Nanz (eds.), 2023. Annotated Taxonomic Checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America, North of Mexico. Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Bakersfield, California, xiv + 580 pp. (order).
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Walsingham, L.T.d.G., 1909-1915. Insecta, Lepidoptera-Heterocera, Vol. IV, Tineina, Pterophorina, Orneodina, Pyralidina and Hepialina (part). Biologia Centrali-Americana, 4: 21; pl. 1, fig. 20.
    Monochroa plutella
    (BOLD:ABW6361) AZ © C. Melton

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