Favoritos de becksinsects

~ 1 mm whitish non-metallic body with light blue eyes. Had long white setae coming off the last tergite, patterned wings and body; black outlining all whitish body segments on mesosoma and metasoma and legs. Clear whitish color bead like anelli (could be pedicel) and 1 long club-like possibly fused funicle and clava. Found on the surface of rainwater in a bucket. Dried off and jumped more than flew away. ID'd by expert, Bob Zuparko on Hymnopterists Forum. Hyperparasitic on parasitoids (hymenoptera) of scales according to BugGuide. Bob Zuparko shared, "In Gibson et al., 1997, the genus was listed as a hyper of Diaspididae, Coccidae, Psyllidae and other Homoptera, while 1 species was a primary of Conchaspididae."

Measured ~1 mm maybe a tiny bit over, 1.1 mm. Found on the surface of rainwater in a bucket same location as previous day. See similar observation set. According to Luke Kresslein Wasp 2024 ID course, hyperparasitoid. Hyperparasitic on parasitoids (hymenoptera) of scales according to BugGuide. Bob Zuparko shared, "In Gibson et al., 1997, the genus was listed as a hyper of Diaspididae, Coccidae, Psyllidae and other Homoptera, while 1 species was a primary of Conchaspididae."

This specimen was collected using Malaise traps then shipped to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for dehydration, mounting, and imaging.

The label data is listed below:

USA: CA: Riverside Co.
Joshua Tree National Park
Little San Bernardino Mtns
Smith Water Cyn, 20.V-1.VI.2012
34.029715° N -116.279058°
S. Nazario, J. Maciel, A. Cohen
IRN 10325394

There are two subspecies of this moth in NA. The host plant of E. semipurpurella pacifica is Holodiscus discolor (Oceanspray) - a species not found, in Canada, east of BC.(?)
Because this specimen was collected in northern NS - and its host plant is Betula (Birch) - it must be the other subspecies E. semipurpurella semipurpurella.