Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Acrolophus arcanella - Hodges#0340

Moth 052514 ID - Acrolophus arcanella Acrolophus arcanella Pennsylvania Moth - Acrolophus arcanella Acrolophus arcanella Acrolophus sp - Tubeworm Moth - Acrolophus arcanella Lappet moth sp?? - Acrolophus arcanella Moth - Acrolophus arcanella Moth - Acrolophus arcanella
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Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Tineoidea (Tubeworm, Bagworm, and Clothes Moths)
Family Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
Subfamily Acrolophinae (Burrowing Webworm Moths)
Genus Acrolophus (Tubeworm Moths)
Species arcanella (Acrolophus arcanella - Hodges#0340)
Hodges Number
0340
Identification
Fresh specimens show scattered raised white scales on the forewings but the white scales can disappear with wear.

This is the only eastern species in the genus with FW length >1 cm, a robust thorax, and directly upward-pointing palps that flies in the summer. Some A. mora may have palps that appear upward-pointing in some photos, but A. mora is easy to identify from its flight season (September-October vs May-August for arcanella). These images show the robust thorax (much thicker than the head) and distinctive palps well:


Genitalia:
Food
Clover roots (Ohio State U)
Remarks
This is a common eastern species that has been mostly confused with Acrolophus popeanella.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group – images of live and pinned adults