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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Gelechiidae
59a0065.15n – 1841.89   Besciva cf. longitudinella (Busck, 1914)

© Carol Wolf [T]
Distribution: USA: FL north to NC and west to TX.
Larva and
Host Plants:
Sabal longipedunculata, S. mauritiiformis (Kimball 1965:278).
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • nr. longitudinella (Busck, 1914); TL: (Besciva longitudinella Busck, 1914) "La Chorrera and Trinidad River, Panama".
  • Taxonomic Notes: Besciva nr. longitudinella Busck, 1914, listed as Besciva n. sp. near longitudinella Busck in Kimball (1965:278), refers to one or more species represented by the BIN groups BOLD:AAH4557, BOLD:AAM8599, and BOLD:ABA4722. DNA barcode places those BINs near Ymeldia janae Hodges, 1965. Both nr. longitudinella and Ymeldia janae may be misplaced in Gelechiidae as they are likely in or near the genus Taygete which is in the family Autostichidae. The genitalia of both align well with that of Taygete attributella, a species which includes as a synonym difficilisella (Chambers 1872), the type species of that genus (Terry Harrison, pers. comm., 27Dec2025) (Jim Vargo, pers. comm., 28Dec2025).
    References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:AAH4557 - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification.
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:AAM8599 - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification.
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:ABA4722 - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification.
    • Busck, A., 1914. New genera and species of Microlepidoptera from Panama. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 47: 5.
    • Heppner, J.B., [2007] 2003. Lepidoptera of Florida, Part 1: Introduction and Catalog. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas, 17: 1-670.
    • Kimball, C.P., 1965. Lepidoptera of Florida. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas, 1: 1-363.
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    Besciva cf. longitudinella
    © Carol Wolf [T]
    Besciva cf. longitudinella
    © Steve Nanz [T]
    Besciva cf. longitudinella
    © David Reed [T]
    Besciva cf. longitudinella
    © Jeff Hollenbeck [T]
    Besciva cf. longitudinella
    © Jeff Hollenbeck [T]
    Besciva cf. longitudinella
    © Jim Vargo – 9mm - LG

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