Afroarabiella meyi is a species of moth belonging to the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as plume moths. It is the sole species in the genus Afroarabiella.
Taxonomy and Etymology
The species was first described by Cees Gielis in 2008.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Pterophoridae
- Genus: Afroarabiella Gielis, 2008
- Species: Afroarabiella meyi Gielis, 2008
The genus name Afroarabiella combines "Afro-" and "Arabia" with a diminutive suffix, referring to its distribution in the Afro-Arabian region. The specific epithet meyi honors Dr. Wolfgang Mey, a German entomologist who collected specimens of this species in Yemen.
Distribution
Afroarabiella meyi is known from the Arabian Peninsula, specifically recorded from Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Its presence in this arid region aligns with the characteristics of many plume moth species adapted to diverse habitats.
Description
Like other members of the Pterophoridae family, Afroarabiella meyi exhibits the distinctive deeply cleft or "plumed" wings. These wings are often divided into several feathery lobes, giving them a unique appearance compared to other moths. Specific detailed descriptions of A. meyi would include wing venation, coloration, and genitalic structures, which are crucial for distinguishing it from other closely related species within the Pterophoridae. The primary description by Gielis (2008) provides these technical details.
References
- Gielis, C. (2008). On a New Plume Moth from Yemen (Afroarabiella meyi gen. nov. et spec. nov.) (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). Beiträge zur Entomologie, 58(2), 481–487.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - Afroarabiella meyi. 1