Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Depressariidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Menesta | |
Menesta melanella is a moth in the Depressariidae family. It was described by Mary Murtfeldt in 1890. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina.
The wingspan is 10-12 mm. The forewings are blackish brown with greenish-violet reflections, and a triangular patch of white scales on the costa about midway between the base and the apex. The hindwings have a broad white streak extending along the costa from the base to beyond midpoint.
The larvae feed on Quercus obtusiloba and Quercus stellata.
References
Menesta melanella Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA