inexpectata

Inexpectata is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. The binomial name is Inexpectata novus. It was first described in 2020 by entomologists K. H. Lee and M. Rodríguez in the Journal of Lepidopterology after the collection of specimens in the high-altitude cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes. The species is distinguished from close relatives by its unique wing pattern, which features a series of irregular pale bands intersecting the dark brown forewings, and by the presence of a pronounced tufts of setae on the hindlegs, a trait unusual for the genus.

The species epithet “inexpectata” reflects the unexpected discovery of the organism during a routine survey of nocturnal Lepidoptera, as it was not anticipated that such a distinct species would exist within the already well-documented Gelechiidae of the region. Adult moths are generally active from late November to early March, coinciding with the wet season, and are attracted to artificial light. Their larval host plants are believed to include species of Begonia and Alpinia, although definitive host associations have yet to be confirmed.

The distribution of Inexpectata appears to be limited to the montane cloud forest zones between 3,200 and 3,800 meters above sea level, with confirmed records in the Ancash and Huánuco departments. The species is currently listed as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN Red List due to the limited knowledge of its population size and potential threats from habitat alteration. Further field studies are needed to assess its conservation status and ecological role within Andean forest ecosystems.