Aleptina arenaria
Encyclopedia
Aleptina arenaria is a moth
of the Noctuidae
family. It is only known from the White Sands National Monument
, Otero County
, New Mexico
.
The length of the forewings is 10 mm for males and females. Adults are grey with normal noctuid
transverse markings and spots.
. Arena means sand in Latin. The Latin suffix -aria means connected with something. The specific epithet of this species, arenaria calls attention to the specialized sandy habitat where Aleptina arenaria was discovered.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Noctuidae
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
family. It is only known from the White Sands National Monument
White Sands National Monument
The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about southwest of Alamogordo in western Otero County and northeastern Dona Ana County in the state of New Mexico, at an elevation of 4235 feet...
, Otero County
Otero County
Otero County is the name of two counties in the United States:* Otero County, Colorado* Otero County, New Mexico...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
The length of the forewings is 10 mm for males and females. Adults are grey with normal noctuid
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
transverse markings and spots.
Etymology
Gypsum sand is the substrate of the white dune field at White Sands National MonumentWhite Sands National Monument
The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about southwest of Alamogordo in western Otero County and northeastern Dona Ana County in the state of New Mexico, at an elevation of 4235 feet...
. Arena means sand in Latin. The Latin suffix -aria means connected with something. The specific epithet of this species, arenaria calls attention to the specialized sandy habitat where Aleptina arenaria was discovered.