Norape tener, the mesquite stinger moth, is a species of moth in the family Megalopygidae. It was described by Herbert Druce in 1897.[1] It is found in Mexico and the south-western US (south-eastern Arizona,[2] and southern New Mexico).

Norape tener
Adult (top) and larva (bottom)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Megalopygidae
Genus: Norape
Species:
N. tener
Binomial name
Norape tener
(H. Druce, 1897)
Synonyms
  • Archylus tener H. Druce, 1897
  • Ramaca achriogelos Dyar, 1910

The wingspan is about 29 mm (1.1 in). Adults are white, with the disk of the thorax blackish. The forewings have a broad brown-black costal edge, and the outer and inner margins and the fringe, except at the apex, are of the same color. The inner border has a branch reaching up to the cell at the origin of vein 2.[3]

The larvae mainly feed on mesquite, acacia, paloverde and other desert plants. They are light green with black and white stripes and stinging hairs.

Etymology

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The species name is derived from Latin tenera (meaning soft).[4]

References

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  1. ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "​Norape tener​". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "660066.00 – 4648 – Norape tenera – Mesquite Stinger Moth – (Druce, 1897)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Notes on Megalopygidae". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Kistler, Ethan (July 17, 2013). "Species Norape tenera - Mesquite Stinger Moth - Hodges#4648". BugGuide. Retrieved January 3, 2020.