Pterophoridae
Guides
Adaina ambrosiae
ragweed plume moth, ambrosia plume moth
Adaina ambrosiae is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, recognized by its distinctive split-wing appearance. The species has a broad distribution across North America and extends into the Caribbean and Central America. Adults are active year-round in southern portions of the range. Larvae feed on multiple host plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly Ambrosia species, from which the specific epithet derives.
Adaina montanus
Mountain Plume Moth
Adaina montanus is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, native to North America. It has a wingspan of approximately 16 mm and is characterized by snow-white coloration with ferruginous-brown scaling on the forewings. The species is associated with specific host plants including cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium canadense) and New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii). Adults are active during summer months, with larvae feeding on leaf tissue of their host plants.
Adaina perplexus
Perplexing Plume Moth
Adaina perplexus is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, characterized by its distinctive wing structure with divided fringes. The species occurs in the southeastern United States, Caribbean, and Trinidad. Adults are active across multiple months, with records from January through October. The specific epithet and common name reflect historical taxonomic uncertainty, as some authors have treated it as synonymous with Adaina ambrosiae.
Adaina thomae
St. Thomas Island Plume
Adaina thomae is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, characterized by its small size with a wingspan of approximately 13 mm. The species has a broad neotropical distribution spanning from the southern United States through the Caribbean and into South America. Adults have been recorded in multiple months throughout the year, suggesting extended or year-round flight activity in suitable climates. The specific epithet and common name reference Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, one of the localities where this species occurs.
Agdistis
Agdistis is the sole genus in the subfamily Agdistinae, a group of plume moths within the family Pterophoridae. These moths are characterized by distinctive wing modifications that create a plumed or feathery appearance. The genus contains multiple species distributed across various regions, though specific details for many species remain limited in published literature.
Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla
Sage Plume Moth
Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla, commonly known as the Sage Plume Moth, is a small plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. Native to western North America from California and Arizona through Mexico to Costa Rica, it has been introduced to Hawaii. The species was originally described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1902 and later moved to the genus Anstenoptilia by Zimmerman in 1958, though a misspelling of the epithet as 'marmorodactyla' has persisted in some literature.
Capperia
Capperia is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by Tutt in 1905. Species are small with wingspans ranging from approximately 12.5 to 20.5 mm. The genus is distributed across Europe, extending into parts of Asia including Kazakhstan and Turkey. Members exhibit bivoltine flight periods with adults active in late spring and mid-summer.
Capperia raptor
Pineywoods Geranium Plume Moth
Capperia raptor is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, first described by Edward Meyrick in 1908. It is a small moth with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm, characterized by divided wings typical of the family. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States including Colorado and Indiana.
Cnaemidophorus
rose plume moth
Cnaemidophorus is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by Wallengren in 1862. The genus contains four described species, including the well-known rose plume moth (C. rhododactyla). These moths are characterized by their deeply divided wings, a defining feature of plume moths. The genus has been documented across Europe and parts of Asia.
Dejongia
Dejongia is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by Gielis in 1993. The genus name honors Dr. R. de Jong of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (formerly National Museum of Natural History, Leiden) for his contributions to resolving phylogenetic problems. Three species are recognized: Dejongia californicus, D. lobidactylus, and D. wrightii. These moths are characterized by the deeply divided wings typical of plume moths, with fringed margins on the wing lobes.
Geina sheppardi
Sheppard's Plume Moth
Geina sheppardi is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Landry in 1989. It is known from western North America with scattered records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Geina, it belongs to a group of plume moths associated with wild grape and related plants.
Gillmeria
Gillmeria is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by English entomologist James William Tutt in 1905. Plume moths in this genus possess the characteristic split or divided wings that define their family. The genus contains multiple species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These moths are generally small with slender bodies and distinctive wing morphology.
Hellinsia
Hellinsia is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae, established by J.W. Tutt in 1905 and named in honor of entomologist John Hellins. The genus comprises numerous species distributed across the Holarctic region, with documented occurrences in North America, Europe, and Asia. Species identification relies heavily on genitalia morphology and wing pattern characteristics. Notable biological findings include the first documented case of ovoviviparity in an Arctic population of H. albilobata.
Hellinsia angustus
Hellinsia angustus is a species of plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. Members of this genus are characterized by their distinctive wing structure, with wings split into feathery plumes. The species has been documented in at least six observations according to iNaturalist records. As with many plume moths, detailed biological information for this specific species remains limited in published literature.
Hellinsia arion
Long-harped Plume Moth
Hellinsia arion is a plume moth (family Pterophoridae) first described by William Barnes and Arthur Ward Lindsey in 1921. The species occurs in western North America, with records from Alberta, Canada, and Arizona, USA. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 22.5 mm and display characteristic brownish-grey and white scaled coloration with distinctive wing markings.
Hellinsia brucei
Bruce's Plume Moth
Hellinsia brucei, commonly known as Bruce's Plume Moth, is a species of plume moth in the family Pterophoridae. First described by Fernald in 1898, it is found in western North America including Arizona, Colorado, and parts of Canada. The species was formerly classified under the genus Oidaematophorus. As a plume moth, it exhibits the characteristic split or feathery wing structure typical of this family.
Hellinsia elliottii
Elliot's Plume Moth
Hellinsia elliottii is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, native to North America. Adults have a wingspan of 21–26 mm and exhibit distinctive white forewings with ocher yellow markings and brown scaling. The species occurs across a broad latitudinal range from Quebec and Alberta south to Mississippi and New York. Larvae are light green with long white hairs and a broken creamy dorsal line.
Hellinsia hoguei
Hogue's Plume Moth
Hellinsia hoguei is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, described by Gielis in 1996. It is endemic to Mexico. As with other members of its genus, it likely has the characteristic split or fringed wings typical of plume moths, though detailed morphological descriptions remain limited in published literature.
Hellinsia longifrons
Snout Plume Moth
Hellinsia longifrons is a plume moth in the family Pterophoridae, commonly known as the Snout Plume Moth. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults have a wingspan of 25–28 mm and display distinctive gray-brown coloration with white markings on the thorax and abdomen. The species is associated with the host plant Acourtia microcephala.
Lantanophaga
A genus of plume moths (Pterophoridae) established by Zimmerman in 1958. Contains four described species, with L. pusillidactylus being the most widely documented due to its role as a biological control agent of the invasive weed Lantana camara. The genus is notable for its specialized association with this host plant across multiple continents.
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.
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.
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.
Oidaematophorini
Oidaematophorini is a tribe of plume moths within the subfamily Pterophorinae, characterized by distinctive wing morphology. The tribe includes genera such as Calyciphora, Merrifieldia, Tabulaephorus, Emmelina, and Hellinsia. In Iran alone, at least 29 species across Oidaematophorini and the related tribe Pterophorini have been documented, with new species and sexes of described species still being discovered.
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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
Platyptilia
plume moths
Platyptilia is a genus of plume moths (family Pterophoridae) established by Jacob Hübner in 1825. Members of this genus are characterized by their distinctive wing structure, with wings divided into several feathery plumes. The genus contains numerous species distributed across multiple continents, with several species documented as agricultural pests. Well-studied species include the artichoke plume moth (P. carduidactyla) and the geranium plume moth (P. pica), both of which have been subjects of detailed behavioral and chemical ecology research.
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.
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.
Scambus pterophori
Scambus pterophori is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Pimplinae. The species epithet "pterophori" suggests an association with plume moths (family Pterophoridae), likely indicating host specificity. Like other Scambus species, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of concealed lepidopteran larvae. The genus Scambus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some species previously considered distinct now recognized as seasonal morphs of single species.
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 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
plume moths
Stenoptilia is a genus of plume moths in the family Pterophoridae. Species in this genus are characterized by their specialized feeding relationships with particular host plants, often as seed predators or bud/flower feeders. The genus has been documented across Europe, Asia, and South America, with some species showing strong habitat specificity and limited dispersal capacity.
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.
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.