Arrhenophanes perspicilla is a species of moth

Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

 in the Arrhenophanidae

Arrhenophanidae

Arrhenophanidae is a family of moths in the Lepidoptera order.-Genera:* Arrhenophanes* Cnissostages* Dysoptus* Notiophanes* Palaeophanes...

 family. It occurs throughout much of the lowland Neotropical Region from the state of Veracruz

Veracruz

Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...

 in Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 to Misiones in Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

 and Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. It is absent from the West Indies.

The length of the forewings is 13-21 mm for males and 19-32 mm for females. In favorable habitats, adults of this species can be encountered throughout the year. In the lowlands of Costa Rica, for example, adults have been collected in every month of the year.

The larvae feed on Polyporus

Polyporus

Polyporus is a genus of fungi in the Polyporaceae family. It is a genus used for the production of single cell proteins, sources of mixed protein extracted from pure or mixed cultures of algae, yeasts, fungi or bacteria used as a substitute for protein-rich foods, in human and animal feeds.The...

species, including Polyporus vulgaris.

Larvae

The length of the larvae ranges up to 41 mm with a maximum width of 10 mm. They are cuticle white, with yellowish brown to black plates and spots.

Larval Case

The larval case has a length of up to 40 mm and a maximum width of 16 mm wide. It is slightly depressed with thick, tough walls which are lined internally with dense, white silk. It is covered externally with brownish, matted silk and fungal fragments.

Pupa

The pupa has a maximum length of 22 mm for females and 17 mm for males. The female antennal sheaths are more than 2 times the width of those of the male.

External links

• Arrhenophanidae family