**NOTE** Adult moth sent to T. Harrison who has reared a series and will be describing the species.

This is a small Lepidoptera species whose larva feeds on Dalea villosa (silky prairie clover). Earlier this year I was alerted to its presence on the Weaver Dunes sand prairie in Wabasha Co. by MJ Hatfield and Joel Dunnette. In the summertime, on its host plant, the larva fashions a small retreat from silk and dead D. villosa leaflets and petioles, where it is quite well concealed. It is at least partially a nocturnal feeder. Larval distribution on the preserve seems to be very patchy: in summer 2010, a few D. villosa clusters were well-populated with the caterpillars, but most clusters were nearly or entirely caterpillar-free. Larvae consistently parasitized (rate around 50% in my rearing jars this summer) by a tiny black wasp. Cocoon (see later images in this post) small, oval, covered in soil substrate material; may sit on soil surface or be buried an inch or two (maybe more?) underneath. Typical emergence time uncertain; the only emergence in captivity I know of happened in late October.

I would add that the information I share here about feeding time (i.e., "partially a nocturnal feeder") and pupation is mostly based on what I observed from captive animals I was trying to rear; who knows to what extent wild larvae might behave differently!

For images of larvae, see the following posts:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/478311
http://bugguide.net/node/view/478310

For images of a small black wasp that parasitizes the silky prairie clover caterpillar, see the post
http://bugguide.net/node/view/478304

Also see this photo of another adult that emerged in captivity: