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Insect Identification > Description of the Plume Moth
 

Details of the Plume Moth

CATEGORY:
Butterfly or Moth

COMMON NAME:
"Plume Moth"

SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Hellinsia homodactyla)

TAXONOMY:
(View Orders)
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
   Class:Insecta
    Order: Lepidoptera
     Family: Pterophoridae
      Genus: Hellinsia
       Species: homodactyla


CHARACTERISTICS: Their thin body and 'T' shape make this moth unique. Their wings have the appearance of a plume (feather) and when at rest, the moth rolls them into a rod shape.

Like other moths, they are most active at night, but they can be seen near pollen sources during the day.

Larvae roll leaves (and eat them) and bore into the stems of plants. Adults drink flower nectar.


ADULT SIZE (Length, not including legs):
6mm to 50mm (0.24in to 1.97in) (Compare Size)

IDENTIFYING COLORS: White; gray

North American Reach
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana
 
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Picture of Plume Moth
Courtesy of Barbara S. from Seattle, WA

     

 

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