Other Common Names
Palm Leaf Housemaker (larva)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
placed in family Coleophoridae by Nye & Fletcher (1991), and in Batrachedridae by Hodges in Kristensen (1999)
Numbers
one of two species in this genus in North America listed at
All-LepsSize
wingspan about 20 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
Identification
Adult: forewing slender, almost parallel-sided for most of length, tapering to a rounded point at apex; pale yellowish-brown except for darker brownish-orange strip along costa, and two white markings in median area that together resemble an exclamation point; hindwing consists of a rod-like or spike-like midrib; all wings with long fringe of hair-like scales, very prominent in spread specimens, but hidden beneath forewings (which are hugged close to the body) in live individuals at rest; antennae thick, almost as long as forewing
Range
South Carolina to Florida, west to Louisiana
Season
adults present from March to October in Florida
See Also
the "exclamation point" marking on the forewing is diagnostic
Internet References
pinned adult image by Jim Vargo, plus photos of related species (Moth Photographers Group)
distribution (Dalton State College, Georgia)
presence in Florida; list and common name reference [Palm Leaf Housemaker] (John Heppner, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)
classification (Brian Pitkin, Butterflies and Moths of the World)
