Blepharomastix ranalis

Blepharomastix ranalis, the hollow-spotted blepharomastix moth, is a species of grass moth of the family Crambidae found in the eastern and southern United States, and Mexico.

Blepharomastix ranalis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Blepharomastix
Species:	B. ranalis
Binomial name
Blepharomastix ranalis (Guenée, 1854)
Synonyms
Stenia ranalis Guenée, 1854 Asopia archasialis Walker, 1859 Blepharomastix datisalis Druce, 1895 Blepharomastix occidentalis Haimbach, 1908 Botys gracilis Grote & Robinson, 1867 Botys ofellusalis Walker, 1859 Botys olliusalis Walker, 1859 Botys strictalis Walker, 1866

Description

Adult wings are typically spread horizontally at rest, with the forewing spread further than the hindwing. Wings have a pale, tan ground color interrupted by dark brown antemedial, postmedial, and dashed terminal lines. The postmedial line of the forewing turns sharply toward the median area and again toward the inner margin. The median area of the forewing contains an orbicular spot and a reniform spot, each outlined in brown, giving them a hollow appearance.

Distribution and habitat

The species' occurrence range extends from Arizona, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin in the west to Florida, New Hampshire, and Quebec in the east.

Life cycle

Adults have been reported from March to October, with most sightings from April to August.