Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Explanation of Names
See guide page for family
Adelidae.
Numbers
Arnett, p. 659, lists 10 species.
(1)
Nearctica.com lists 11 species.
Identification
small moths with very long antennae (3 times as long as forewing in males; 1-2 times as long as forewing in females)
basal half of antennae hairy in females
Range
Much of North America.
Genus also occurs in Eurasia.
Season
adults fly in April and May (Minnesota, North Carolina, eastern North America)
Food
Larvae reported to feed on rotting leaves on forest floor, and also reported to feed in flowers or seeds of milkweed, other plants at first, and then on foliage. These later larvae live in cases made from oval pieces of leaves.
Adults take nectar, since found at flowers.
Print References
Arnett, p. 659, fig. 27.24
A. purpurea (1)
Covell, p. 455, plate 62 #8
A. purpurea (2)
Brimley, p. 313, lists
A. bella = caeruleella for North Carolina in April-May.
(3)
Milne, p. 705, fig. 522, reports larvae feed on
Asclepias, make cases.
(4)
Holland, p. 437, plate XLVIII, fig. 45
A. bella = caeruleella; reports
adults feeding on
Asclepias nectar.
(5)Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology lists just
A. caeruleella for the state, with 14 pinned.
Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota pinned adult image of
A. purpurea
classification of
Adela in family Adelidae by Davis
in Kristensen, 1999 (Butterflies and Moths of the World)
Contributed by
Cotinis on 18 February, 2005 - 11:16pm
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 14 May, 2009 - 3:54am
