Phaloesia is a monotypic of tiger moth genus in the family Erebidae. Its only species is Phaloesia saucia, the saucy beauty moth. The genus and species were first described by Francis Walker in 1854. It is found from the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States[1][2] to Venezuela.[3][4]

Phaloesia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Phaloesia
Walker, 1854
Species:
P. saucia
Binomial name
Phaloesia saucia
Walker, 1854
Synonyms
  • Phaloesia fulvicollis Butler, 1876
  • Cocastra gentilis Boisduval, 1870
  • Phaloesia venezuelae Butler, 1876
  • Phaloesia chalybea Butler, 1876
  • Phaloesia flaviventris Reich, 1938

Adults are on wing nearly year round. Adults have been observed feeding on nectar from Chromolaena odorata, Aloysia gratissima and Sabal mexicana.[5] The larvae feed on Tournefortia species, including Tournefortia volubilis.[5]

Taxonomy

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Phaloesia fulvicollis was previously wrongly listed as a synonym of Gnophaela aequinoctialis.

References

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  1. ^ "930351.00 – 8039 – Phaloesia saucia – Saucy Beauty Moth – Walker, 1854". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  2. ^ Quinn, Mike. "Saucy Beauty". Texas Lep Information. Texas Entomology. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  3. ^ Savela, Markku. "Phaloesia saucia Walker, 1854". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  4. ^ Becker, Vitor O. (September 15, 2013). "Taxonomic changes in the Neotropical Pericopina and Ctenuchina moths (Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini), with description of new taxa" (PDF). The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera. 46: 53–66. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Quinn, Mike (May 22, 2016). "Species Phaloesia saucia - Saucy Beauty - Hodges#8039". BugGuide. Retrieved September 6, 2019.