Stephensia armata is a Central American moth of the Elachistidae

Elachistidae

| image = Elachista rufocinerea 2.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Elachista rufocinerea,demonstrating its tiny size versus an aphid and a spider mite | regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta...

 family and Gelechioidea

Gelechioidea

| name = Curved-horn moths| image = Xylorycta assimilis.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Xylorycta assimilis of the Xyloryctidae, photographed in Aranda Note prominent "horns" and long antennae| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda...

 superfamily, discovered in 1998 at Las Cuevas Research Station, in Belize

Belize

Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...

's Chiquibul Forest Reserve.

Physiology

The wingspan is approximately 6.6mm, with a forewing length of 3mm.
S. armata is distinguishable by the 2-3 teeth arming the valvae, from which it gets its name.
Stephensia is remarkable for the single transverse fascia of the forewing, and long lobes of the valvae and juxta.

Coloration is largely pale ochre or grey-brown. The underside and head are paler, while its back and wings are grey-brown or dark ochre. Pale ochre scales spread across every segment distally.

S. armata is distinct from congeneric American species of moth in the deep split between the juxta lobes, and its relatively small uncus.

S. armata is noticeably apomorphic in its phylogeny.

Habitat

Samples of S. armata were collected in April, during the rainy season Belize#Climate. The local vegetation was largely evergreen, with some deciduous trees.

Discussion of nomenclature

S. armata is named on the convention assigning three genera to Lepidoptera, due to the researchers’ preference for a more stable taxonomy and the characteristics of Armata that place it squarely within Stephensia.