| Commatica falcatella | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gelechiidae |
| Genus: | Commatica |
| Species: | C. falcatella |
| Binomial name | |
| Commatica falcatella (Walker, 1864) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Commatica falcatella is a moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1864. It is found in Mexico, Colombia and the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro. [1]
Moths comprise a group of insects related to butterflies, belonging to the order Lepidoptera. Most lepidopterans are moths, and there are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are also crepuscular and diurnal species.
The Gelechiidae are a family of moths commonly referred to as twirler moths or gelechiid moths. They are the namesake family of the huge and little-studied superfamily Gelechioidea, and the family's taxonomy has been subject to considerable dispute. These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larvae of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plants, sometimes causing galls. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) is a host plant common to many species of the family, particularly of the genus Chionodes, which as a result is more diverse in North America than usual for Gelechioidea.
Francis Walker was an English entomologist. He was one of the most prolific authors in entomology, and stirred controversy during his later life as his publications resulted in a huge number of junior synonyms.
Adults are chalybeous (steel-blue) black, the forewings with two silvery costal points, one at three-fifths of the length, the other at four-fifths. The hindwings are dark cupreous. [2]
