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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Twirler Moths and kin (Gelechioidea) » Depressariidae » Stenomatinae » Rectiostoma » Yellow-vested Moth  - Hodges#1026 (Rectiostoma xanthobasis)
Photo#1395320
Tiny Yellow and Black Moth - Rectiostoma xanthobasis
Copyright © 2017 John Morgan

Tiny Yellow and Black Moth - Rectiostoma xanthobasis
Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama, USA
June 30, 2017
Size: 7 mm in length
This is, by far, the smallest moth I've ever seen. I was able to measure him precisely because he was perched on 18x16 strands per inch window screening. His head and upper body were bright yellow. There was a half moon shape black spot on each side of his thorax. There was a black band around his head that extended as a wider cape onto his back. The lower portions of his wings were black with a white border, which appeared to be somewhat shiny or glittery.

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Tiny Yellow and Black Moth - Rectiostoma xanthobasis Tiny Yellow and Black Moth - Rectiostoma xanthobasis
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Contributed by John Morgan on 1 July, 2017 - 8:55pm
Last updated 2 July, 2017 - 1:45am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 2 July, 2017 - 1:45am login or register to post comments

Yellow-vested Moth
Rectiostoma xanthobasis

… David E. Reed, 1 July, 2017 - 9:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Yellow-vested Moth
That you so much for that fast response! This is precisely the moth I saw. I hope he comes back again. He is so small I would almost consider him microscopic.
… John Morgan, 1 July, 2017 - 9:35pm login or register to post comments

 
you'd be surprised!
There are moths that are much smaller than yours! Most of the moths that come to my moth setup are actually somewhere around 8-12mm. I've seen sub 3mm moths before.
… Ryan Andrews, 1 July, 2017 - 10:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Yellow-vested Moth
Yes, it is small but it is twice as large as the smallest moths I've found.
… David E. Reed, 1 July, 2017 - 9:40pm login or register to post comments

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