My Meganola with PM spikes at the inner margin here would also qualify as M. minuscula if I use Hugh McGuinness' criterion, but the images in MPG and BugGuide give me pause. Robert, I notice that you did not move Jeff's image to species - do you feel the same way?

This Meganola is iffy. The spikes aren't really tall and clear enough, and best left at genus. As for yours, I'd say it is Confused, which is a very appropriate moniker

Robert, when you refer to "yours" do you mean Ann's or mine ?

I was referring to the subject specimen as "iffy." The rest is response to YOUR comment. I responded to Ann separately

Interesting comments. I struggle with these all the time. So, I went to the ID's for mine and one has spikes and one doesn't. Since this one has spikes I went to the referred photo and read all the comments and printed off the original description as Steve Nanz suggested. I haven't digested it, but thought it was worth mentioning in this discussion.

Ashy spikes are shorter and less pronounced, according to Hugh. Accordingly, your specimen above would be a Confused Meganola.

Thank you Robert, this has been an interesting discussion for me. I have long thought that I had more than one species of Meganola. I am currently typing off the M. spodia original description for my editor files and will go through all of my Meganolas with "new eyes". I still won't be placing any to species until I can watch a while to see what you experts do.

You should be on Facebook. A lot of experts on the Mothing and Moth-watching group. Great place to learn more.

I am still "chicken" when it comes to social media but I WOULD like to learn more!