Norape tener, the mesquite stinger moth, is a species of moth in the family Megalopygidae. It was described by Herbert Druce in 1897.[1] It is found in Mexico and the south-western US (south-eastern Arizona,[2] and southern New Mexico).

Norape tener
Adult (top) and larva (bottom)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Megalopygidae
Genus: Norape
Species:
N. tener
Binomial name
Norape tener
(H. Druce, 1897)
Synonyms
  • Archylus tener H. Druce, 1897
  • Ramaca achriogelos Dyar, 1910

The wingspan is about 29 mm (1.1 in). Adults are white, with the disk of the thorax blackish. The forewings have a broad brown-black costal edge, and the outer and inner margins and the fringe, except at the apex, are of the same color. The inner border has a branch reaching up to the cell at the origin of vein 2.[3]

The larvae mainly feed on mesquite, acacia, paloverde and other desert plants. They are light green with black and white stripes and stinging hairs.

Etymology edit

The species name is derived from Latin tenera (meaning soft).[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Norape tener​". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "660066.00 – 4648 – Norape tenera – Mesquite Stinger Moth – (Druce, 1897)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Notes on Megalopygidae". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Kistler, Ethan (July 17, 2013). "Species Norape tenera - Mesquite Stinger Moth - Hodges#4648". BugGuide. Retrieved January 3, 2020.