''Dysoptus argus'' is a species of
moth in the family
Arrhenophanidae
Arrhenophanidae is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera.
Genera
* '' Arrhenophanes''
* '' Cnissostages''
* '' Dysoptus''
* '' Notiophanes''
* '' Palaeophanes''
The genus ''Parameristis'' with the species ''Parameristis eremaea'' is now con ...
. It has a wide range in lowland wet forests of the Amazonian Region of northern
South America from southern
Venezuela and
Guyana
Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...
to
Peru and
Brazil.
The length of the forewings is 5.5–7.2 mm for males and 10.1–12 mm for females. Adults are on wing in November and from February through June.
The larvae feed on ''
Fomes
''Fomes'' is a genus of perennial woody fungi in the family Polyporaceae. Species are typically hoof-shaped (ungulate). New growth each season is added to the margin, resulting in a downward extension of the hymenium. This often results in a z ...
'' species.
Pupa
The pupa has a length of about 8 mm and is similar to ''
Arrhenophanes perspicilla
''Arrhenophanes perspicilla'' is a species of moth in the family Arrhenophanidae. It occurs throughout much of the lowland Neotropical Region from the state of Veracruz in Mexico to Misiones in Argentina and Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazi ...
'' in chaetotaxy except with SV bisetose on A3-A6. The cremasteral spines are minute and slightly
more raised and acute than in ''A. perspicilla''.
Larval case
The larval case has a length of about 11 mm and a maximum width of 3.5 mm. It is cylindrical with thick, tough walls which are lined internally with dense, white silk. It is covered externally with brownish, matted silk and minute plant fragments.
Etymology
The specific name is derived from the Greek argus (white), in reference to the predominantly whitish color of this species.
External links
Family Arrhenophanidae
Dysoptus
Taxa named by Donald R. Davis (entomologist)
Moths described in 2003
{{Tineoidea-stub