Species Plagiomimicus spumosum - Frothy Moth - Hodges#9748

9748

one of 17 species in this genus in North America

wingspan 28-38 mm (1)

Adult: forewing grayish-brown with dense pale speckling ("froth"); PM line conspicuous, edged with whitish scales, abruptly bent near costa but otherwise almost straight (i.e. bulge in line confined to upper half of wing); slightly darker shading in median area, especially near PM line; AM line straight, variably pale to almost invisible; reniform and orbicular spots obscure, barely visible; terminal line dark, slightly wavy; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to grayish-brown distally, sometimes separated by pale PM line; terminal line dark; fringe mixed with pale and dark scales

Larva: head yellowish-brown; body light pinkish-brown, hairless, with bumpy surface

across southern United States, north in the east to New Jersey and Ontario, north in the west to Alberta

adults fly from June to September; most common in August

larvae tunnel in flowerheads and feed on seeds of sunflower (Helianthus spp.)

The common name is given on page 138 of Covell's Guide (1) where it is listed under the synonym Stibadium spumosum.

Plagiomimicus manti has a more restricted range (western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)

dark forms of several species of Papaipema usually have darker forewings and their PM lines are either inconspicuous or straight for most of their length

Common Pinkband forewing is superficially similar but has wavy lines and a pinkish band in subterminal area

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Pacific Northwest Moths