Elasmia mandela is a species of moth of the family Notodontidae first described by Herbert Druce in 1887. It occurs in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the US states of Texas and Oklahoma.

Elasmia mandela
Male
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Notodontidae
Genus: Elasmia
Species:
E. mandela
Binomial name
Elasmia mandela
(H. Druce, 1887)
Synonyms
  • Edema mandela H. Druce, 1887
Elasmia mandela santaana male
Elasmia mandela santaana female

Overall colour is dark grey brown with obscure transverse forewing markings. Males and females are similar in appearance. Elasmia mandela santaana is grey overall with a contrasting dark scale patch in the reniform/subreniform area.[1] Adults are on wing from April to early October.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Rhamnaceae and Sapindaceae species, including Unganadia speciosa for subspecies Elasmia mandela santaana.

Subspecies

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  • Elasmia mandela mandela (Mexico and Costa Rica)
  • Elasmia mandela santaana Metzler & Knudson, 2011 (Texas, Oklahoma and probably Mexico)

Etymology

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The name of subspecies Elasmia mandela santaana refers to its type locality, the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

References

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