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Echinocereta Neunzig

Thomas J. Simonsen and Richard L. Brown

Last updated:  Dec.15, 2009

Taxonomic Synonymy
Echinocereta Neunzig, 1997, Pyraloidea, Pyralidae (part). in Dominick et al. The Moths of America North of Mexico, fasc. 15.4: 70
Type species: Euzophera strigalis Barnes and McDunneough, 1912. By monotypy.

Diagnostic Characters
Adult
Echinocereta is similar to Cactobrosis, but can be distinguished by the following character combination: 1) antenna of both sexes simple, male antenna without sinus with scale-like sensilla, 2) maxillary palpus small and filiform, 3) male genitalia with a sclerotized, setose lobe at the base of the valva, valva relatively short, 4) forewing grey with strong black stripes, most notably along the middle of the discal cell (Neunzig 1997; Simonsen 2008).

Larva
According to Mann (1969) and Neunzig (1997) the larvae are deep blue without transverse bands or spots.

Larval Hosts
The larvae feed in Echinocerus. (Mann 1969; Neunzig 1997).

Life History
The larvae are gregarious feeders (Mann 1969).

Distribution
Echinocereta occurs in southwestern USA and central Mexico (Heinrich 1939, 1956; Mann 1969, Neunzig 1997).

Species
     strigalis