Taygete sylvicolella

The combination of small size (15 mm wingspan), white forewings heavily overlaid with dark fuscous, three distinct costal spots, paired disk dots with intervening longitudinal streak, and hindwings with bluish-grey sheen distinguishes this species. The specific pattern of whitish spots at costal cilia and opposite dorsal margin, plus the dark streak at basal third of dorsal margin, are key diagnostic features. Similar Autostichidae species lack this particular arrangement of contrasting spots and streaks.

Wingspan approximately 15 mm. Forewings white, thickly overlaid with dark fuscous. Three brown, nearly black costal spots present: one at base, one midway, and one just before costal cilia. Whitish spot at beginning of costal cilia, less overlaid with fuscous, with smaller similar spot opposite on dorsal margin. Short, transverse, oblique dark streak at basal third of dorsal margin reaching fold, widening to small dark spot sometimes edged exteriorly with white scales. Blackish oblong dot edged with white on middle of disk; similar but more prominent dot at end of disk. Oblong, longitudinal, dark-brown streak between and immediately below these dots. Row of equidistant dark-brown spots at base of cilia around costal, apical and dorsal edge. Hindwings light grey with bluish reflections.

Recorded from Illinois, Maine, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Alberta. Distribution appears disjunct across eastern and central North America with limited records.

• Other Taygete speciesShare genus-level characteristics of wing shape and general pattern elements, but differ in specific spot arrangement, color intensity, and presence of diagnostic longitudinal streak between disk dots.
• Other AutostichidaeSimilar small size and general gelechioid morphology, but T. sylvicolella distinguished by unique combination of heavy fuscous overlay, three costal spots, paired disk dots with intervening streak, and bluish hindwing reflections.

• moth
• Autostichidae
• North America
• small
• patterned wings

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life