Species Chrysoesthia sexguttella - Hodges#1719

1719

sexguttella means "six drops"; refers to the six drop-like spots on the forewings (three on each wing)

wingspan 8-10 mm, based on three Internet photos

Adult: forewing slender, almost parallel-sided, with wide fringe on outer margin, especially at anal angle, where the fringe forms a tuft that projects upward when the moth is at rest with its wings held together over the abdomen; forewing dark gray or blackish with three large orangish-yellow spots (sometimes reduced): one crossing the wing near the base, a second spot halfway along the inner margin, and another spot about two-thirds distance along costa; hindwing thin, gray, with wide fringe of hair-like scales

northeastern North America, perhaps introduced (?) from Europe or north Africa, where it is widespread

see genus page for distribution of other Chrysoesthia species

fields, roadsides, waste places where foodplants grow

in Europe, adults fly in May and June, and again in August and September

larvae are leaf-miners, forming a contorted gallery on the surface of leaves; two generations per year

C. drurella has extensive orange on much of the forewing, interspersed with metallic silvery markings