Oegoconia

Species of Oegoconia in Indiana

Genus Oegoconia

Stainton, 1854

Etymology

Oegoconia: Precise meaning is unclear, but combines the Greek words oeg, meaning “open,” and possibly conia meaning “cone.”

Pronunciation

oh-eg-oh-kohn-eye-uh

Overview

Oegoconia is a small but widespread genus of moths that is usually placed into family Autostichidae, but some references place the genus in family Symmocidae.

Taxonomic Level	Worldwide	North America	Midwestern USA	Indiana
Distribution of Genus Oegoconia
Species	~13	3	~2	~1

Members of Oegoconia are native to Europe, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
Oegoconia deauratella, Oegoconia novimundi, and Oegoconia quadripunctata have all been accidentally introduced to North America from western Europe.
All three introduced species are indistinguishable without dissection/microscopic examination or DNA analysis. In Indiana, most are presumed to be O. novimundi as it has been in North America for over 100 years and is believed to be the most widespread.
All three introduced species share the same common name of four-spotted yellowneck moth.
Some taxonomists consider O. novimundi to be a junior selective synonym of O. quadripunctata.

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the genus Oegoconia Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

GAIN LP
documented
in county.

Photo Credits

Four-spotted yellowneck moth (Oegoconia novimundi) courtesy of Kat Slater.