Species Agdistis americana - Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089

Classification · Hodges Number · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Internet References · Works Cited

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Pterophoroidea (Plume Moths)

Family Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)

Subfamily Agdistinae (Entire-winged Plume Moths)

Genus Agdistis

Species americana (Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089)

Hodges Number

6089

Numbers

1 nearctic species (more species in Palearctic and Oriental regions)(1)

Size

FW: 9-10.7 mm(1)

Identification

The genus is distinctive among American Plume Moths (Pterophoridae) in having both fore-wings and hind-wings entire (i.e. lacking the irregularly-cleft "fringes" along the trailing edges of the wings, typical of other plume moths). In living specimens, the posture enables easy recognition in combination with the specialized habitat. Wings are angled upward forming an overall "Y" shape, rather than at right angles to the thorax forming a "T" as in most other Pterophorid genera:

Range

Southern California (including Channel Islands) and both coasts of Baja California, Mexico.(1)

Habitat

Coastal salt marshes.(1)

Season

Larvae have been found in March (emerging in April) and May (emerging in June). Adults have been collected from March to May and also from September to October, suggesting at least two generations a year.(1)

Food

Larval host plant is the salt marsh plant Alkali Heath (Frankenia salina).(1)

Internet References

Curated Image of Agdistis americana

Works Cited

1.	Moths of Western North America Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.

Contributed by Aaron Schusteff on 28 June, 2011 - 7:59pm
Additional contributions by James Bailey, treichard
Last updated 16 August, 2023 - 6:56pm

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