Pink-winged moth identified as entirely new species by biologist.Byline: ANIWashington, June 10 (ANI): A biologist has discovered a pink-winged moth in the Chiracahua Mountains in the US, which is an entirely different species from an entirely different family. The moth was found by University of Arizona (body, education) University of Arizona - The University was founded in 1885 as a Land Grant institution with a three-fold mission of teaching, research and public service. biologist Bruce Walsh Bruce Walsh (born July 6, 1977) is contemporary American playwright and a prominent Philadelphia fringe artist. His works have received attention due to their unique brand of site-specific theater. , who is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Some U.S. universities are home to degree programs entitled Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, offering integrated studies in the disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology. . His new discovery, Lithophane Lith´o`phane n. 1. Porcelain impressed with figures which are made distinct by transmitted light, as in a lamp shade or when hung in a window. leeae, was found it in the Chiracahua Mountains east of Tucson. Lithophane moths are members of the noctuid family, which often are dull colored. Walsh's moth, in contrast, is bright pink. Walsh discovered L. leeae while collecting one evening at Onion Saddle, at about 7,700 feet in the Chiracahuas. Collecting involves illuminating a sheet with mercury vapor lamps. Moths are attracted by the lights and will land on the sheet. "This large moth flew in and we didn't think much of it because there is a silk moth (Zool.) the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm. See also: Silk very much like it, a Doris silk moth that feeds on pines that has dark wings with pink on the hind wings. It's fairly common there," said Walsh. On closer inspection, though, the moth, a female, appeared to be an entirely different species from an entirely different family. Walsh said it currently is the only known individual. Scientists are generally reluctant to identify a new species based on one individual, but L. leeae appears so distinct from others that Walsh said it is highly unlikely that it is an aberration of an existing species. A DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. barcode later confirmed it as a distinct species. Walsh said that he is confident there are bound to be more. "If this thing is flying at the top of the Chiracahuas, it's probably pretty common," he said. As to why L. leeae hasn't been found before, Walsh theorized that his specimen simply emerged late from hibernation when it was caught. Another theory is that it could be a stray from another mountain range in the region. Walsh said there are a number of species that fly early in the summer and are rare in collections and not often seen in most years. "We can now add L. leeae to this group of large, but quite elusive, species," he said. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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