Plume-moth
Guides
Leptodeuterocopus neales
Everglades Plume Moth
Leptodeuterocopus neales is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Everglades Plume Moth. It is native to the Neotropics with a recent expansion into Florida. The species has a wingspan of approximately 13 mm and adults are active during most months of the year in its native range.
Lioptilodes
Lioptilodes is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by Zimmerman in 1958. These moths are characterized by their distinctive wing structure, with wings divided into feathery plumes typical of the family. The genus is primarily distributed in the Neotropical region.
Lioptilodes albistriolatus
Mousy Plume Moth
Lioptilodes albistriolatus is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Mousy Plume Moth. It has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from Argentina to the southwestern United States, and has been introduced to Hawaii. The species is notable for its larvae that feed internally on the flower heads of Asteraceae plants.
Marasmarchini
Marasmarchini is a tribe of plume moths within the subfamily Pterophorinae, family Pterophoridae. Members of this tribe are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology, with wings divided into plume-like lobes. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed across various regions. These moths are generally small with slender bodies and elongated legs.
Megalorhipida leucodactylus
Spiderling Plume Moth
A pantropical plume moth recognized by its distinctive split-wing morphology and white to pale coloration. Adults are frequently encountered in warm regions worldwide, including the Galápagos Islands, Australia, Brazil, and the Arabian Peninsula. The species is one of the most widely distributed members of the Pterophoridae family. It is commonly known as the Spiderling Plume Moth.
Michaelophorus
Michaelophorus is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae. The genus contains seven described species, with Michaelophorus nubilus designated as the type species. All species are distributed in neotropical regions. Ecological details for the genus remain poorly documented.
Oidaematophorus balsamorrhizae
Balsamroot Plume Moth
Oidaematophorus balsamorrhizae is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1939. The species is restricted to western North America and is associated with Balsamorhiza host plants. Adults have a wingspan of 23–25 mm. The common name references its larval host relationship with balsamroot plants.
Oidaematophorus cretidactylus
Chalky Plume Moth
Oidaematophorus cretidactylus, known as the Chalky Plume Moth, is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. It is characterized by its whitish ochreous forewings with fawn-colored markings and a wingspan of approximately 26 mm. The species has been documented in scattered locations across North America.
Oidaematophorus eupatorii
Eupatorium Plume Moth, Joe Pye Plume Moth
Oidaematophorus eupatorii is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. It occurs across North America from Canada to Central America, with records from the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama. The species is associated with Eupatorium and Epilobium plants, on which its larvae feed. Adults are small moths with distinctive split wings characteristic of plume moths.
Oidaematophorus grisescens
Wormwood Plume Moth
Oidaematophorus grisescens is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Wormwood Plume Moth. It is found across western North America from Mexico through the western United States to western Canada. The species is associated with Artemisia host plants. Adults have a wingspan of 20–29 mm and exhibit characteristic grey coloration with white spotting.
Oidaematophorus mathewianus
Yarrow Leaf Plume Moth, Mathew's Plume Moth
A small plume moth (Pterophoridae) with a wingspan of 21–26 mm. Adults are pale brownish-grey with distinctive split wings characteristic of the family. Larvae feed exclusively on yarrow (Achillea millefolium). The species exhibits seasonal dimorphism in pupal coloration.
Oidaematophorus occidentalis
Western Plume Moth
A plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, found in western North America from Alberta and British Columbia south to Arizona and Utah. The species exhibits considerable color variation but generally displays creamy white to dull tawny-brown coloration with characteristic brown markings on the forewings. The wingspan ranges from 26–29 mm. Larvae feed on Aster, Grindelia, and Helianthus species.
Oidaematophorus phaceliae
Phacelia Plume Moth
Oidaematophorus phaceliae is a plume moth distributed across western North America from Yukon to California and Baja California. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 25 mm with distinctive fawn-brown forewings marked with white and smoky scaling. Larvae feed on Hydrophyllaceae plants including Phacelia and Hydrophyllum virginianum, with pupation occurring on dead leaves of the host plant.
Oxyptilus
Oxyptilus is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1841. It belongs to the tribe Oxyptilini. The genus has been documented from northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As with other plume moths, members of this genus are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology.
Oxyptilus delawaricus
Hawkweed Plume Moth
Oxyptilus delawaricus is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Zeller in 1873. It is known from North America, with records from Canada and multiple U.S. states including California, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The species is small, with a wingspan of 17–18 mm. It is commonly referred to as the Hawkweed Plume Moth, suggesting an association with plants in the genus Hieracium.
Oxyptilus eleanerae
Eleaner's Plume Moth
Oxyptilus eleanerae is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Matthews in 2017. It is a recently described species with limited published information available. Records indicate it occurs in the United States. The species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing morphology typical of plume moths.
Paraplatyptilia
Paraplatyptilia is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae. Members of this genus are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology, with wings divided into feathery plumes—a defining trait of the family. The genus contains multiple species distributed across North America and other regions.
Paraplatyptilia atlantica
Atlantic Canada Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia atlantica is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, endemic to Eastern Canada. It is known only from Newfoundland and Quebec, with records from coastal and montane habitats including Mount Albert at elevations up to 1,100 metres. The species is small, with a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. Adults are active during mid-summer.
Paraplatyptilia auriga
False Foxglove Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia auriga is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described in 1921 by Barnes and Lindsey. It is restricted to eastern North America and is associated with false foxglove (Gerardia) and other Asteraceae hosts. The species is one of approximately 38 observation records on iNaturalist, suggesting it is not frequently encountered.
Paraplatyptilia carolina
Carolina Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia carolina is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by William D. Kearfott in 1907. It is a small moth with a wingspan of 20–25 mm, characterized by clay yellow coloration and distinctive wing markings. The species is restricted to the southeastern United States.
Paraplatyptilia cooleyi
Cooley's Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia cooleyi is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, found in western North America. The species was named in honor of Mr. R. A. Cooley. Adults have a wingspan of 21–27 mm and exhibit distinctive wing markings including variable dark brown spots and a subterminal whitish stripe on the forewing first lobe. The moth's yellowish-brown coloration and divided wing structure are characteristic of plume moths.
Paraplatyptilia edwardsii
Lousewort Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia edwardsii is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Lousewort Plume Moth. It is a small moth with a wingspan of 22–27 mm, characterized by distinctive wing fringes and reddish-brown coloration with contrasting pale markings. The species occurs in northeastern North America, including Maine, Massachusetts, and eastern Canada.
Paraplatyptilia fragilis
Beardtongue Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia fragilis is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Lord Walsingham from the Klamath Lakes area in northern California. It has a wide geographic range across the Great Basin, inland montane and desert regions from eastern British Columbia to Utah, and from New Mexico to southern California and Baja California Norte in Mexico. Adults are active in April and have a wingspan of 17–19 mm. The species is very similar to Paraplatyptilia carduidactylus but averages paler in coloration, particularly on the uniformly pale abdomen. The larvae feed specifically on Penstemon cyananthus.
Paraplatyptilia sabourini
Sabourin Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia sabourini is a species of plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. It is known from North America, with the type specimen collected in Burnett County, Wisconsin. As a member of this genus, it possesses the characteristic divided wings that define plume moths. Little detailed biological information has been published for this species.
Paraplatyptilia shastae
Mount Shasta Plume Moth
Paraplatyptilia shastae is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, known from a small number of observations in western North America. The species was named for Mount Shasta in northern California, reflecting its type locality. Like other plume moths, it possesses distinctive divided wings with fringed margins. It remains poorly known, with limited published biological information.
Platyptilia percnodactylus
Aquiline Plume Moth
Platyptilia percnodactylus is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae known from western North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 22 mm and display distinctive pale brown coloration with contrasting wing patterns. The species is attracted to artificial light sources and has been documented in California and Alberta.
Platyptilia tesseradactyla
Irish Plume Moth
Platyptilia tesseradactyla is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, distributed across northern and central Europe, Russia, and North America. It has been recorded as far north as 70° latitude in Norway and also occurs in Iran. The species was originally described by Linnaeus in 1761 under the name Alucita tesseradactyla. As a member of the plume moth family, it possesses the characteristic deeply divided wings that give these moths their common name.
Platyptilia williamsii
Calendula Plume Moth
Platyptilia williamsii, commonly known as the calendula plume moth, is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae found in western North America. Adults display distinctive wing patterning with ocherous-brown forewings marked by dark brown patches and white speckling. The larvae are known to feed on Calendula species and certain Senecio species.
Platyptiliini
Platyptiliini is a tribe of plume moths within the subfamily Pterophorinae. Members of this tribe are characterized by distinctive wing structures and are among the most frequently observed plume moths, with over 43,000 iNaturalist records. The tribe includes numerous species in the genus Platyptilia and related genera.
Pselnophorus
Pselnophorus is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, characterized by their distinctive wing structure. The genus contains approximately 18 species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa. Like other plume moths, members of this genus have wings divided into feathery plumes, an adaptation that reduces wing area while maintaining flight capability.
Pselnophorus belfragei
Belfrage's plume moth
Pselnophorus belfragei is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, native to the southeastern United States. The species is named for Swedish-American naturalist Gustav Wilhelm Belfrage. It is distinguished by its diminutive size and characteristic plume moth wing morphology. The moth is active throughout the year and has a documented association with Dichondra caroliniensis as a larval host plant.
Singularia walsinghami
Walsingham's Plume Moth
Singularia walsinghami is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae described by Fernald in 1898. The species is found in North America, with records from Colorado and other parts of the western United States. It is named in honor of Lord Walsingham, a notable figure in British entomology. The moth is relatively small, with a wingspan of 25–26 mm, and exhibits characteristic plume moth morphology with divided wings.
Sphenarches
Sphenarches is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae. Species are distributed across pantropical regions, with records from Japan and southern Canada. The genus includes at least eight described species, with Sphenarches anisodactylus being the most studied. Host plant associations have been documented for several species.
Sphenarches anisodactylus
geranium plume moth, fire-flag plume moth
Sphenarches anisodactylus is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. It has a remarkably broad distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions across multiple continents. The species is known to feed on flower buds and flowers of diverse plant families, with larvae recorded from over a dozen host plants including ornamental, agricultural, and wild species. Its common names reflect association with geraniums (Pelargonium) and fire-flag (Thalia geniculata).
Sphenarches ontario
Grape Flower Plume Moth
Sphenarches ontario is a plume moth (family Pterophoridae) described from Ontario, Canada in 1927 by James Halliday McDunnough. It is commonly known as the Grape Flower Plume Moth. The species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing morphology typical of plume moths, with wings divided into feathery plumes. As a member of the Oxyptilini tribe, it is part of a group of small to medium-sized plume moths whose larvae often feed on flowers and fruits.
Stenoptilia coloradensis
Colorado Plume Moth
Stenoptilia coloradensis is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Colorado Plume Moth. It is characterized by the distinctive wing structure typical of plume moths, where wings are divided into feathery lobes. The species has been documented across a broad North American range including western and northern regions.
Stenoptilia exclamationis
Exclamatory and Colorado Plume Moths
Stenoptilia exclamationis is a moth complex in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Exclamatory and Colorado Plume Moths. It occurs in the western United States, with records from California and Oregon. The complex designation indicates this taxon may encompass multiple closely related species or subspecies that require further taxonomic clarification. As a plume moth, it belongs to a family characterized by distinctive wing morphology.
Stenoptilia mengeli
Mengel's Plume Moth
Stenoptilia mengeli is a small plume moth (family Pterophoridae) described by Fernald in 1898. It is known from Arctic regions of Greenland and Nunavut, Canada. The species is characterized by its ashy grey coloration with distinctive dark markings on the wings. It is among the least genetically divergent Stenoptilia species, showing close relationship to Stenoptilia islandicus.
Stenoptilia pallistriga
Pale-streaked Plume Moth
Stenoptilia pallistriga is a small plume moth (family Pterophoridae) described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. It occurs across the Neotropics and the southeastern United States, with a wingspan of 14–16 mm. Adults are active during multiple periods throughout the year, with flight records spanning February through December.
Stenoptilia zophodactylus
dowdy plume, Dowdy Plume Moth
Stenoptilia zophodactylus is a small plume moth with a wingspan of 16–23 mm, found across multiple continents. The species has a complex life cycle involving both leaf-mining and external feeding stages. It is a specialized seed predator of plants in the Gentianaceae family, particularly Centaurium species. Adults are active from July to September in overlapping broods.
Stenoptilodes brevipennis
Sweet Broom and Sri Lanka Plume Moth
Stenoptilodes brevipennis is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Zeller in 1883. It is notable for its exceptionally broad geographic distribution, spanning from southern Canada through most of the United States and throughout much of Central and South America. Adults are small, with a wingspan of 12–14 mm, and are active during multiple months of the year. The larvae feed on specific host plants: Mecardonia acuminata and Russelia equistiformis.
Trichoptilus
Trichoptilus is a genus of plume moths (family Pterophoridae) established by Walsingham in 1880. The genus contains approximately 15 recognized species distributed primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, with records from Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding regions. Species in this genus are characterized by their distinctive wing morphology typical of plume moths, with wings divided into feather-like plumes. The genus includes the former species Trichoptilus bidens, now transferred to the genus Prichotilus.
Trichoptilus pygmaeus
Pygmy Plume Moth
Trichoptilus pygmaeus is a minute plume moth (family Pterophoridae) with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. It is one of the smallest members of its family in North America. The species exhibits the characteristic divided wings of plume moths, with forewings split into two lobes. Larvae feed on specific host plants including Chrysopsis scabrella and Arctostaphylos columbiana, consuming young leaves and bracts of unopened flowers.