Eulithosia discistriga (Smith)

Lythrodes discistriga Smith, 1903, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., 29:207.

Diagnosis: Eulithosia discistriga is a pretty, but uncommon, little species of the southwestern United States. The forewing is yellow white and the hindwing is yellow. The forewing veins are accented with dark brown and the accents widen into small triangles along the outer margin. The basal setal group of the male vesica consists of a large rounded knob with small terminal spines and the apical group of spines is reduced to a few enlarged setae. This condition is also found in Eulithosia composita. The female ovipositor lobes are short and splayed outward. Wing length from base to apex: mean = 13.27 mm., standard deviation = 0.37 mm., n = 10.

Distribution: Eulithosia discistriga has been collected in western Texas, southern and western Arizona, southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northern Baja California. Californian specimens seem to be limited to the eastern portions of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.

The adults appear to be two brooded with an early spring generation and a late summer one as well.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

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