Geranium Plume Moth
Common NameGeranium Plume Moth
Scientific NameCnaemidophorus rhododactyla
FamilyPterophoridae
SubfamilyPterophorinae
Wingspan (mm)22.5
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, white, black
HabitatGardens, meadows, waste ground, and areas where its host plants grow.
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, Asia Minor, and introduced to North America.
Host PlantsGeranium spp., Pelargonium spp.
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae feed on the flowers and developing seeds of Geranium and Pelargonium species, pupating on the host plant.
Identification TipsKey features include its characteristic T-shaped resting posture, deeply divided wings, and the mottled brown and white pattern with prominent dark markings on the forewings.
Description
This slender plume moth has deeply cleft wings that are held out horizontally in a distinctive T-shape when at rest, displaying a mottled pattern of brown, white, and black.
