Exelastis montischristi

Exelastis montischristi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pterophoridae
Genus:	Exelastis
Species:	E. montischristi
Binomial name
Exelastis montischristi (Walsingham, 1897)
Synonyms
Pterophorus montischristi Walsingham, 1897 Pterophorus cervinicolor Barnes & McDunnough, 1913

Exelastis montischristi is a species of moth in the genus Exelastis, known from Hispaniola,^[1] Ecuador, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, the Virgin Islands,^[2] Florida and Texas.^[3] It has also been recorded from Tanzania.^[4]

Adults take flight in January, July and August, and have a wingspan of about 16 millimetres.^[5] The forewings are light grayish brown with mixed beige scales and some scattered dark brown scales and the hindwings are uniformly dark grayish brown with somewhat lighter fringes.^[6]

Its hostplant is Rhynchosian minima. The larvae are mostly found on small seedling plants and only rarely on mats of older vines. Final instar larvae are about 9 mm long and light green with a dark green middorsal line and raised ivory longitudinal ridges.^[7]

References

1. Arthropods of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti)
2. Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part I: Ochyroticinae, Deuterocopinae, Pterophorinae (Platyptiliini, Exelastini, Oxyptilini) (Lepidoptera)
3. Description Of A New Species Of Exelastis (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) From The Neotropics, With Keys To Adults Of The Four Species Occurring In Florida
4. Afro Moths
5. Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part I: Ochyroticinae, Deuterocopinae, Pterophorinae (Platyptiliini, Exelastini, Oxyptilini) (Lepidoptera)
6. Description Of A New Species Of Exelastis (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) From The Neotropics, With Keys To Adults Of The Four Species Occurring In Florida
7. Description Of A New Species Of Exelastis (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) From The Neotropics, With Keys To Adults Of The Four Species Occurring In Florida