Deplorable Desmia Moth
Common NameDeplorable Desmia Moth
Scientific NameDesmia deploralis
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilySpilomelinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Primary Colorsdark brown, black, iridescent blue, white
HabitatWoodlands, forests, areas with host plants
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas
Host PlantsSmilax, Dioscorea
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae feed on the leaves of host plants, then pupate before emerging as adult moths.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its dark wings with specific iridescent blue-white markings, particularly the two distinct spots on the forewings and smaller ones on the hindwings. The overall shape and markings help differentiate it from similar *Desmia* species.
Description
A small, dark moth with a blackish-brown body and wings. The forewings feature two prominent, somewhat rectangular, iridescent blue-white spots, and the hindwings have similar smaller spots.
