Forest-floor
Guides
Zanclognatha
litter moths
Zanclognatha is a genus of litter moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Herminiinae. The genus was erected by Julius Lederer in 1857 and has experienced taxonomic instability, having been synonymized with Polypogon multiple times before current treatments generally recognize it as distinct. Species-level taxonomy remains problematic, with adult moths often difficult to distinguish using traditional characters. The genus contains approximately 25 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
Zanclognatha atrilineella
Black-lined Fan-foot
Zanclognatha atrilineella is a small litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is commonly known as the Black-lined Fan-foot. The species is restricted to the southeastern United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 23 mm.
Zanclognatha laevigata
Variable Zanclognatha, Variable Fan-foot
Zanclognatha laevigata is a litter moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1872. It is widely distributed across eastern North America, from Manitoba to Nova Scotia and south to Florida and Missouri. The species has a wingspan of approximately 30 mm and produces one generation annually. Larvae feed on detritus, particularly dead leaves.
Zanclognatha lituralis
Lettered Zanclognatha, Lettered Fan-foot
Zanclognatha lituralis is a small litter moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the Lettered Zanclognatha or Lettered Fan-foot. It was described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The species is widespread across eastern North America and is notable for its detritivorous larval diet.