Lepidoptera118 species

Family Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)

Pterophoridae is a family in the order Lepidoptera. Browse 118 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Pterophoridae (118)

Ragweed Plume Moth

Adaina ambrosiae

Adaina ambrosiae (ambrosia plume moth or ragweed plume moth) is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in North America from California east to Florida and north to Ontario. It is also known from Bermuda, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and

Hemp-agrimony Plume

Adaina microdactyla

Wingspan 13 to 17 mm. The smallest of the British Pterophoridae which is pale buff in colour. The larvae gall the stems of Hemp-agrimony and the species is probably most easily recorded by recording the galls or exit holes in the host plant. Adult: R

Mountain Plume Moth - Hodges#6157

Adaina montanus

Identification: Wings: White, deeply cleft with some speckled brown scales. Heavy brown scales at wing tips. A wide, broken, dark brown-speckled streak diagonal across mid-wing touching the base of the lobe division. The second lobe has a brown strea

Three-dotted Plume Moth - Hodges#6155.1

Adaina simplicius

Identification: Adult : Head is pale yellowish, tinged with brownish, especially on the vertex. Thorax is pale straw-yellow. FW are very pale straw-yellow, the costa with a few brown scales, a small patch of similarly colored scales on the costa, bey

Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089

Agdistis americana

Identification: The genus is distinctive among American Plume Moths (Pterophoridae) in having both fore-wings and hind-wings entire (i.e. lacking the irregularly-cleft "fringes" along the trailing edges of the wings, typical of other plume moths). In

Saltmarsh Plume

Agdistis bennetii

Wingspan 24 to 30 mm. Agdistis bennetii has a very distinctive resting posture, with its narrow wings held forward, and the front part of the body raised on the long forelegs. Unlike the other members of the Pterophoridae, the Agdistinae have forewin

Beautiful Plume

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

A "Plume" moth. Like its relative, A. punctidactyla , the hindwing has two patches of black scales on its dorsum which protrude when the rest of the hindwing is covered by the forewing. Amblyptilia acanthadactyla may be distinguished by its warm redd

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Amblyptilia pica (geranium plume moth) is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is found in western North America from Alaska to California, inland to Alberta and Kansas. It is also found in the north-eastern United States and Ontario.

Brindled Plume

Amblyptilia punctidactyla

Wingspan 18 to 23 mm. Superficially similar to A. acanthadactyla , this species is generally greyer and less warm in colouration, and has a more speckled appearance. There are two generations with moths flying in July and then from September, hiberna

Sage Plume Moth

Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla

Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is native to California and Arizona, south through Mexico to Costa Rica. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.

Sundew Plume Moth - Hodges#6098

Buckleria parvulus

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species account in Matthews and Barnes & Lindsey as Trichoptilus parvulus . Buckleria parvulus adults have: a forewing second lobe that is narrow with an acute apex, as in Trichoptil

Wood Sage Plume

Capperia britanniodactylus

It likes dry, south-facing and sloping stony habitats, where Wood Sage is present. The moths fly in June and July, and are only generally seen from dusk onwards, hiding by day amongst the foodplants. The larvae feed on Wood Sage. In spring, it bites

Evans' Plume Moth - Hodges#6095

Capperia evansi

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the identification section for Capperia . See the species accounts in Landry and McDunnough as Pterophorus evansi .

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Hedgenettle Plume Moth - Hodges#6094

Capperia ningoris

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the identification section for Capperia . See the species accounts in Barnes & Lindsey as Pterophorus ningoris and Walsingham as Oxyptilus ningoris . Adult - brown with a dull purplish s

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Pineywoods Geranium Plume Moth - Hodges#6096

Capperia raptor

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the identification section for Capperia . See the species accounts in Barnes & Lindsey as Pterophorus raptor and Meyrick as Oxyptilus raptor .

Rose Plume Moth

Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla

Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla, the rose plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoroidea. It is found in the Northern Hemisphere, except for Greenland, Southeast Asia, and most of North Africa.

Gumweed Plume Moth - Hodges#6100

Dejongia californicus

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Matthews et al. and Barnes & Lindsey as Trichoptilus californicus . Dejongia californicus adults have: a forewing second lobe that is narrow with an acute apex, a

Lobed Plume Moth

Dejongia lobidactylus

Dejongia lobidactylus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in the north-eastern United States, Quebec and Ontario.

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Dow's Plume Moth - Hodges#6099.4

Exelastis dowi

Identification: See Exelastis for identification information.

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Monte Christi Plume Moth - Hodges#6099.3

Exelastis montischristi

Identification: See Exelastis for identification information.

Dwarf Plume Moth

Exelastis pumilio

Hepalastis pumilio is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It has worldwide tropical distribution, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Surinam, Japan, Micronesia, South Africa the

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Snout-bean Plume Moth - Hodges#6099.2

Exelastis rhynchosiae

Identification: See Exelastis for identification information.

Busck's Plume Moth - Hodges#6093

Geina buscki

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Landry , Hunt & Matthews , McDunnough as Pterophorus buscki , and Barnes & Lindsey as Pterophorus tenuidactylus (misidentification). See the identification sectio

Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092

Geina tenuidactylus

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Landry , Hunt & Matthews , McDunnough as Pterophorus cygnus (discussion of synonym), and Barnes & Lindsey as Pterophorus cygnus (redescribed due to a misidentific

Tansy Plume

Gillmeria ochrodactyla

Wingspan 23 to 27 mm. Superficially similar to P. pallidactyla, this species has the hind leg banded brown and white below the middle spurs, and is often more distinctly marked on the forewing. Various habitats, especially where the larval foodplant

Yarrow Plume

Gillmeria pallidactyla

This species occurs in dry or sandy waste ground and similar habitats. Flying in June and July, the adults hide amongst low foliage during the day and become active from dusk onwards, when they will come to light. Yarrow (Achillea) is the main foodpl

Citron Plume

Hellinsia carphodactyla

Frequenting chalk and limestone habitats. There are two generations, flying in June, and again in August and September. The larvae feed on the crowns and flowerheads of Ploughman's Spikenard (Inula conyzae), the second brood overwintering in the larv

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Hellinsia chlorias - Hodges#6212.1

Hellinsia chlorias

Hellinsia chlorias - Hodges#6212.1 (Hellinsia chlorias) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as plume moths, belonging to the order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). It is classified within the subfamily Pterophorinae, tribe Oi

Hellinsia citrites - Hodges#6183

Hellinsia citrites

Identification: Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).

Elliot's Plume Moth - Hodges#6204

Hellinsia elliottii

Identification: Both Hellinsia homodactylus and H. elliottii have a pure white ground color on the wings, thorax, and abdomen, without the pale yellow, buff, or tan shading of many related species. For photo records, one must ensure that the midleg t

Hogue's Plume Moth - Hodges#6178.1

Hellinsia hoguei

It is uncertain if the population in Arizona represents true Hellinsia hoguei or a cryptic species near hoguei .

Plain Plume Moth

Hellinsia homodactylus

Hellinsia homodactylus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in North America (including New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, California, Oregon, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta) and Guerrero in Mexico.

Black-marked Plume Moth

Hellinsia inquinatus

Hellinsia inquinatus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in North America, including Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Maryland, Alabama, Texas, Missouri, Colorado and Arizona. It has also been recorded from Hispaniola, Mexico

Goldenrod Plume Moth - Hodges#6212

Hellinsia kellicottii

Identification: Wings: Pale yellowish-brown; very few darker brownish scales near wing tips. Tips pointed. Larger dark brown dot at cleft or split in wings, and another very tiny one at tip end. Two very tiny brown spots on outer (costal) edge near w

Milky Plume Moth - Hodges#6213

Hellinsia lacteodactylus

Identification: Original description is online as Oidaematophorus lacteodactylus Chambers. 426 - Brown head with white antennae and space between. Thorax and abdomen whitish. Legs white with first two pairs brownish on one side. Wings slightly darker

Small Goldenrod Plume

Hellinsia osteodactylus

Wingspan 16 to 23 mm. A very pale species with a slight brown costal dash and a dark spot at the base of the wing. It inhabits open woodland areas, and some coastal habitats. The adults fly from dusk in July, and come to light. The larvae feed on the

Lantana Plume Moth

Lantanophaga pusillidactylus

Lantanophaga pusillidactyla, the lantana plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is native to the southern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. It was introduced to Australia accidentally in 1936 and is now found from

Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2

Leptodeuterocopus neales

Identification: The original description as Oxyptilus neales Walsingham, is available online in the print references below. Determined by Debbie Matthews Lott First United States record was collected at UV blacklight by John B. Heppner , 29 April 197

Mousy Plume Moth

Lioptilodes albistriolatus

Lioptilodes albistriolatus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. In South America and Central America it has been recorded from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru and Puerto Rico. It is also present in Nor

Crescent Plume

Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

Wingspan 18 to 22 mm. This species is easily recognisable by the moon-shaped creamy-white marking at the cleft in the brownish forewing. It prefers dry habitats, such as downland, shingle beaches and sand-dunes. It flies from dusk onwards in late Jun

Spiderling Plume Moth

Megalorhipida leucodactylus

Megalorhipida leucodactyla is a species of moth of the Pterophoridae family that has a pantropical distribution.

Hourglass Plume Moth - Hodges#6103

Michaelophorus indentatus

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Matthews et al. and Gielis . "The species is characterized by the weakly marked grey-brown forewings; the third lobe of the hindwing which has a row of promine

Yarrow Leaf Plume Moth - Hodges#6166

Oidaematophorus mathewianus

Identification: Male reddish-brown; female almost entirely white. Both vary greatly. Wings: Female white with a few faint dark scales; sometimes a small dark mark on inner margin which may reach base of cleft or split in wings. Outer (costal) margin

Western Plume Moth - Hodges#6161

Oidaematophorus occidentalis

Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, Moths of Western North America, Pl. 12.32m; p.

Hawkweed Plume Moth - Hodges#6097

Oxyptilus delawaricus

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Matthews and Landry . Oxyptilus delawaricus adults have: a well developed outer margin on the forewing second lobe, unlike in Dejongia , Megalorhipida , Buckleria

Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1

Oxyptilus eleanerae

Identification: See the species account in Matthews . Oxyptilus eleanarae adults have: a well developed outer margin on the forewing second lobe, unlike in Dejongia , Megalorhipida , Buckleria , and Trichoptilus . a gray ground color, unlike the tawn

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Atlantic Canada Plume Moth - Hodges#6125.1

Paraplatyptilia atlantica

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Landry & Gielis and Landry as Stenoptilodes sp. A .

False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127

Paraplatyptilia auriga

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Gielis for Paraplatyptilia watkinsi and Barnes & Lindsey for Paraplatyptilia auriga as Platyptilia auriga .

Carolina Plume Moth - Hodges#6125

Paraplatyptilia carolina

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Landry as Stenoptilodes carolina and Barnes & Lindsey as Platyptilia carolina . Adult - see original description in Print References.

Lousewort Plume Moth - Hodges#6128

Paraplatyptilia edwardsii

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Landry & Gielis , Gielis , Landry as Stenoptilodes edwardsii , Barnes & Lindsey as Platyptilia edwardsii .

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Arctic Plume Moth - Hodges#6142

Paraplatyptilia petrodactylus

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species account in Landry as Stenoptilodes petrodactyla and Barnes & Lindsey as Platyptilia petrodactyla .

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Sabourin's Plume Moth - Hodges#6127.3

Paraplatyptilia sabourini

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species account in Gielis .

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Watkins’ Plume Moth - Hodges#6127.4

Paraplatyptilia watkinsi

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Gielis for Paraplatyptilia watkinsi and Barnes & Lindsey for Paraplatyptilia auriga as Platyptilia auriga .

Artichoke Plume Moth

Platyptilia carduidactylus

Platyptilia carduidactyla (artichoke plume moth) is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in North America, from Mexico north into the United States.

Triangle Plume

Platyptilia gonodactyla

Wingspan 20-30 mm. A pale species with bold markings towards the wing tips (the markings are often chestnut coloured). The adults fly in two generations; one in May and June and a second in the autumn. They are regularly attracted to light. The larva

Aquiline Plume Moth - Hodges#6110

Platyptilia percnodactylus

Identification: Fernald description "Head and thorax pale brown; antennae spotted on the upper side with white and brown. Abdomen brownish, paler at the base. Legs whitish, slender, slightly enlarged, and tinged with brownish at the end of the segmen

Pussytoes Plume Moth - Hodges#6106

Platyptilia tesseradactyla

Identification: See identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Landry and Barnes & Lindsey .

Belfrage's Plume Moth

Pselnophorus belfragei

Pselnophorus belfragei (Belfrage's plume moth) is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is found in the south-eastern United States, from South Carolina to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma.

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Chihuahuan Desert Plume Moth - Hodges#6154.1

Pselnophorus chihuahuaensis

Identification: The four Pselnophorus species occurring north of Mexico are treated in .

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Hodges' Plume Moth - Hodges#6154.3

Pselnophorus hodgesi

Identification: The four Pselnophorus species occurring north of Mexico are treated in .

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Kutis' Plume Moth - Hodges#6154.2

Pselnophorus kutisi

Identification: The four Pselnophorus species occurring north of Mexico are treated in .

White Plume

Pterophorus pentadactyla

Wingspan 26-34 mm. Probably the most distinctive of the 'Plume' moths and one of the largest. Its wings are deeply divided into several 'fingers', each of which is finely feathered, or plumed. Inhabiting dry grassland, waste ground and gardens. The a

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Walsingham's Plume Moth - Hodges#6153

Singularia walsinghami

Identification: Back to Singularia See Encyclopedia of Life for an image and Biodiversity Heritage Library for the original description as Alucita walsinghami .

Fire-flag Plume Moth

Sphenarches anisodactylus

The geranium plume moth (Sphenarches anisodactylus) is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is found in western Africa, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, the New Hebrides and Central and South America, as well as Australia, where it ha

Grape Flower Plume Moth - Hodges#6090

Sphenarches ontario

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Landry , Landry , and McDunnough as Pterophorus ontario . Sphenarches ontario adults have: a forewing second lobe that is broader with a well developed, curved ou

Colorado Plume Moth - Hodges#6149

Stenoptilia coloradensis

Identification: See identification key for Platyptiliini .

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Exclamatory Plume Moth - Hodges#6148

Stenoptilia exclamationis

Identification: See identification key for Platyptiliini .

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Mengel's Plume Moth - Hodges#6146

Stenoptilia mengeli

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Landry as Stenoptilia islandica and Barnes & Lindsey .

Saxifrage Plume

Stenoptilia millieridactyla

Wingspan 17 to 20 mm. Often has a bronzy colouring along the dorsum (trailing edge) of the hind wing. The adults fly in June and July, with a small second generation in late August and early September in some years. Larvae have been found occasionall

Pale-streaked Plume Moth - Hodges#6145

Stenoptilia pallistriga

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Matthews & Hunt , Gielis , and Barnes & Lindsey .

Brown Plume

Stenoptilia pterodactyla

Wingspan 20 to 26 mm. Fresh specimens can be distinguished by their white costal cilia and ochreous, almost rust wing colour from the similar Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla, which has dark costal cilia and grey-brown wings. These differences may be less

Dowdy Plume Moth

Stenoptilia zophodactylus

Stenoptilia zophodactylus is a species of moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in Europe, North America, South America (Ecuador, Mexico and Paraguay), Australia, South Africa, India and Iran.

Snapdragon Plume Moth - Hodges#6123

Stenoptilodes antirrhina

Identification: See identification key for Platyptiliini .

Sweet Broom Plume Moth - Hodges#6122

Stenoptilodes brevipennis

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Matthews et al. (2019a) , Matthews et al. (2019b) , Matthews et al. , Gielis , Landry & Gielis , Lange as Platyptilia crenulata , Barnes & Lindsey as Platyptil

Sri Lanka Plume Moth - Hodges#6121.1

Stenoptilodes taprobanes

Identification: See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Matthews et al. (2019b) , Gielis , and Lange .

Pygmy Plume Moth - Hodges# 6101

Trichoptilus pygmaeus

Identification: See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species account in Barnes & Lindsey . See the differential diagnosis with Trichoptilus potentellus in Lange . Trichoptilus pygmaeus adults have: a forewing second lobe that is narrow