cf. Paectes sp. - Owlet Paecte Moth (Hübner, 1818)

Lepidoptera: Macrolepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Eutellidae: Eutellinae

Data: 10th of April, 2018 at 07:07:14
Location: Brazil, Ceará, Fortaleza (Lat: -3.745888226801686, Long: -38.507214151401854, Accuracy in meters: 5.64981712587235)

Wingspan: ~1,5cm

There is no way for me to asure this is a Paectes sp., but it is a member of the order Lepidoptera, subdivision Macrolepidoptera, superfamily Noctuoidea, family Eutellidae and subfamily Eutellinae.

Wingspan of approximately 1,5cm, but not asured. Some males in the genus possess pectinated or bipectinated antennae. Overall, the whole moth is uniformly colored. Specimen's abdomen possesses around 6 segments with a margin of error of 1. The second segment is outlined by heavier dark stripes. Thorax is smooth. The costa of the forewings is straight, with a heavier shade of brown as it approaches the apex, which is rectangular. Outer margin is oblique (not sure if for all species) with a lobed inner margin. Eyes are compound, bulging and large. Hair tufts can be found on the tube anal portion in both sexes but more present in males. Tibiae with tufts of long hair in the femur-tibia joint. The palpi reach just above the vertex of the head. Subject's antennae simple and reaches far beyond the eyes.

Sources:

Barbut, J. & Lalanne-Cassou, B., 2005: Description de trois Euteliinae néotropicaux appartenant aux genres Eutelia et Paectes et nouvelles synonymies (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, 110 (1): 97-102.

Pogue, M.G., 2013: A review of the Paectes arcigera species complex (Guenée) (Lepidoptera, Euteliidae). Zookeys 264: 126-163. Abstract and full article: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=3661

(Retrieved from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paectes)

The larvae are green and patterns might change between species. A picture of one can be seen in BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1428910

Annotated check list of the <i>Noctuoidea</i> (<i>Insecta</i>, <i>Lepidoptera</i>) of North America North of Mexico: http://www.pensoft.net/J_FILES/1/articles/414/414-G-1-layout.pdf

Hard copy for purchase: http://www.pensoft.net/product.php?p=9988

Distribution range of known species, might contain errors or be incomplete: http://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/euteliinae/paectes/

Registers exist of larvae defoliating members of <i>Altingiaceae</i>, but food preferences still largely unknown to me. Further details will be appreciated and credited. (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/179973-Paectes-abrostoloides)

BOLD Systems: http://v3.boldsystems.org/index.php/TaxBrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=7335