Species Chrysoesthia sexguttella - Hodges#1719

1719

Author: Thunberg, 1794

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

one of 4 species in this genus in North America listed at All-Leps

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, introduced from Europe or north Africa, where it is widespread

see genus page for distribution of other Chrysoesthia species.

Its host plant, goosefoot or lambs-quarters (Chenopodium spp. is also non-native.

fields, roadsides, waste places where foodplants grow

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

larvae feed on members of the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae) such as orache or saltbush (Atriplex spp.) and goosefoot or lambs-quarters (Chenopodium spp.)

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

Leaf mines and larvae, larva, larva, pupae, adult

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

MPG

Barcode of Life (BOLD)

live adult image by Ian Smith, plus life cycle, flight season, foodplants, habitat (Ian Kimber, UK Moths)

iNaturalist