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Eupseudomorpha Dyar
Eupseudomorpha is a monotypic genus of the short grass
prairie regions of north and central Texas and east-central New Mexico.
The adult is a day flier and is on the wing in the spring. The moths is
very striking with a pattern of white, rusty-red outer margin, orange
reniform and orbicular marks, and strong black accenting on the veins.
The large, deep brown-black hindwing is particularly striking. The combination
of the unique pattern, the male and female pectinate antennae, and the
three-pointed frontal process will immediately identify this genus and
species. The sister genus of Eupseudomorpha is almost surely
Psychomorpha. The two genera share the spring, day-flying habit,
both have reduced eyes, and the males both have bipectinate antennae.
The female genitalia are basically the same. There is a single discordant
character, the structure of the vesica. The base of the vesica of Eupseudomorpha
brillians has two denticulate straps arising from the end of the aedoeagal
shaft. These straps are very similar to those found in other genera of
the Agaristinae, e.g. Euscirrhopterus. These denticulate straps
are absent in Psychomorpha. However the apex of the aedoeagal
shaft in Psychomorpha has two projections that may be degenerate
versions of these straps. |
Included Species |