Teleiopsis baldiana

Distinguished from similar Teleiopsis species by the combination of: oblique black raised scale fascia from costa base to dorsum, the transverse fuscous shade over the end of the cell with narrow white exterior edging, and the black-and-brown raised scale streak at the cell end. The bluish white ground color with complex dark overlay pattern is distinctive within the genus for North American species.

Small moth with wingspan 19–21 mm. Forewings bluish white, overlaid with fuscous, black and brown scales. Features a well-defined outwardly oblique fascia of black raised scales running from near the base of the costa to the basal fourth of the dorsum. An ill-defined light fuscous spot occurs on the middle of the costa. An ill-defined transverse shade of fuscous crosses over the end of the cell, edged exteriorly by a narrow nearly unmottled white fascia. A short transverse streak of black-and-brown raised scales appears at the end of the cell. Wing tip overlaid with fuscous.

Associated with stands of poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum); likely occupies coastal and interior California habitats where this host plant grows, including chaparral, oak woodland, and riparian edges.

Endemic to California, United States. No records from other states or countries confirmed.

Larvae feed on Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison oak, Anacardiaceae). Adult diet not documented.

• Toxicodendron diversilobum - larval food plantleaves are rolled by larvae

Larval stage feeds on and rolls leaves of host plant. Specific details of egg, pupal, and adult longevity not documented.

Larvae roll leaves of their host plant, creating shelters while feeding.

Herbivore specializing on poison oak; likely serves as prey for parasitoid wasps and other natural enemies common to gelechiid moths.

Of minor indirect relevance: larvae feed on poison oak, a plant that causes contact dermatitis in humans, but the moth itself is not utilized for biological control or other purposes.

• Teleiopsis diffinisSimilar size and wing pattern; T. baldiana distinguished by the specific arrangement of raised black scale fasciae and the white fascia edging the transverse fuscous shade at the cell end.
• Other North American TeleiopsisMost congeners lack the distinctive combination of oblique basal fascia and terminal cell streak of raised scales; precise identification requires examination of genitalia in some cases.

• endemic
• leaf-roller
• monophagous or oligophagous
• California endemic

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• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life