Dysoptus argus

Dysoptus argus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Arrhenophanidae
Genus: Dysoptus
Species: D. argus
Binomial name
Dysoptus argus
Davis, 2003

Dysoptus argus is a species of moth in the Arrhenophanidae family. It has a wide range in lowland wet forests of the Amazonian Region of northern South America from southern Venezuela and Guyana 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 species.

Pupa

The pupa has a length of about 8 mm and is similar to Arrhenophanes perspicilla 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.

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