Euclemensia bassettelle - Cosmopterigidae

[Monarchrst at aol.com]

Is anyone on the Leps list familiar with the tiny, but very beautiful 
Cosmopterigid Euclemensia bassettelle (Clem., 1864).  I recorded three individuals 
last night that look like this species, but in 11 years of black lighting in 
this location, I have never seen one before.

The species I found holds its last pair of legs vertically upward off the 
surface it is sitting on, very reminiscent of some mosquito species - it is about 
the same size.

If this is characteristic of this species, then it might be this moth or a 
related species.  Either way, it would be an interesting record for this part of 
the USA.

These moths, if it is this species or Genus, are parasitic on certain scale 
insects - very unusual for a lepidopteran.

Ian Watkinson, Yuma, Arizona.

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl