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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Plume Moths (Pterophoroidea) » Plume Moths (Pterophoridae) » Five-lobed Plume Moths (Pterophorinae) » Oidaematophorini » Hellinsia » Groundsel Plume Moth - Hodges#6210 (Hellinsia balanotes)
Photo#42024
Big Pterophorid - Hellinsia balanotes
Copyright © 2006 Sean McCann

Big Pterophorid - Hellinsia balanotes
Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida, USA
February 2, 2006
Size: 3cm wingspan
Very large!
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Sean McCann on 3 February, 2006 - 10:39am
Last updated 13 June, 2006 - 10:36am

Big Pterophorid
You are not alone Sean. I live in coastal Alabama, and have photographed these plume moths that have a wing span of nearly 6 cm. I was severely chastised for over-statement. You have restored my faith (smiles). It was eventually determined to be Groundsel Plume Moth, Hellinsia balanotes. These are recorded to have a wing span of more than 4 cm. Darryl
… Darryl N Searcy, 15 April, 2006 - 4:14pm login or register to post comments

 
Mothra
Your's was not overstatement. I was in total disbelief first time I saw one. It measured 42.6 mm across the dihedral, which would make the actual wing length close to 5 cm.

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 5 November, 2009 - 11:31am login or register to post comments

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