Elliot's Plume Moth
Common NameElliot's Plume Moth
Scientific NameStenoptilia elliottii
FamilyPterophoridae
SubfamilyPterophorinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorspale white, light grey
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, grasslands, and disturbed areas where host plants are abundant.
Geographic RangeNorth America (parts of the United States and Canada).
Host PlantsGoldenrod (Solidago spp.), Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), various composites
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; larvae are typically internal feeders within the stems, flowers, or seeds of composite host plants.
Identification TipsKey features include the unique T-shaped resting posture with wings held horizontally, the deeply cleft and very slender wings, and its overall pale coloration.
Description
A small, pale white to light grey moth with a slender body and distinctive T-shaped wings, which are deeply cleft into narrow lobes and held outstretched at rest.
