Grotella margueritaria Blanchard

Grotella margueritaria Blanchard, 1968, Jour. Lep. Soc., 22: 142, pl. 1, figure 6 adult, pl. 2, figure 6 male genitalia.

Diagnosis: Grotella margueritaria is the largest species in the genus Grotella. The forewing is off-white with a slight cream-colored tinge. The forewing postmedial line is double, a character shared with tricolor. However the space between the two lines is not filled with rusty-orange as in tricolor, and at most is vaguely accented with dull yellow. The basal line is represented by two black dots, one on the costa and the other located just below the costal dot. The antemedial line is an irregular series of black dots and is slanted outwardly from the costa to the inner margin more than in any of the other four species of the binda species group. The orbicular mark is absent and the reniform mark is present as a minute black dot. A black bar is present on the costa must inward from the position of the reniform mark. The two parts of the postmedial line are composed of a series of black dots, the dots slightly stronger on the inner line than the outer. The postmedial line is slightly incurved below the reniform. The subterminal region lacks markings and the black costal markings of the subterminal region comprise the upper portion of the outer component of the postmedial line. A series of black dots is present along the outer margin of the forewing. The hindwing is suffused with dull gray-brown. A postmedial line is present, but not strong. The most distinctive feature of the male genitalia is an upwardly pointed (in the orientation of the figure), triangular projection of the apex of the valve. The valves are strongly sclerotized. No swollen, bulbous projection exists in the juxta. The vesica is nearly identical to that of binda, although larger matching the larger size of the moth. The upper, larger group of spines is separate from the lower group of spines and no ventral diverticulum is present. The female genitalia are very similar to those of binda. The appendix bursae is bent at its junction with the ductus bursae and corpus bursae and angle laterally as in binda. However the appendix bursae is square in shape, not rectangular.

Adults have been collected in August, September and October.

Distribution: Grotella margueritaria is known only from the desert regions of Big Bend National Park in southwestern Texas. There is little variation in the species.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Anulocaulis leiosolenus (Nyctaginaceae) ( Hosts Database, Natural History Museum)

Similar Species

Grotella tricolor