acorn moth - Anatrachyntis badia

1513 - Pyroderces badia

Identified by Terry Harrison.

There are three species of this genus in eastern North America. P. badia was also known to Ronald W. Hodges (MONA Fascicle 6.1; 1978) to have a disjunct population in Orange County, California, where it flies from April to December.

… Bob Patterson, 21 January, 2008 - 2:25pm

Pyroderces badia

Thanks Bob!!! I didn't expect a species id on this, so this is great.

The CA Moth Database lists one specimen from Alameda County (northern CA), along with specimens from four southern CA counties including Orange County

… Joyce Gross, 21 January, 2008 - 2:39pm

Nice images!

How do these fragile creatures emerge from an acorn? I'm guessing the larva will bore a large enough hole to exit from before it pupates.

… Scott Justis, 21 January, 2008 - 10:38am

pre-existing holes?

The two moths I've gotten out of acorns both emerged from acorns that already had holes in them (that someone else might have made, ie. a weevil). However, I haven't been keeping track of the numbers of holes, so I'm not really sure if the moths came out of pre-existing holes or if they made their own.

… Joyce Gross, 21 January, 2008 - 2:21pm