Kimball's Dichomeris Moth
Common NameKimball's Dichomeris Moth
Scientific NameDichomeris kimballi
FamilyGelechiidae
SubfamilyDichomeridinae
Wingspan (mm)13
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgray, brown, black
HabitatWoodlands, fields, and areas with suitable host plants in the southeastern United States.
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (e.g., Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas).
Host PlantsUnknown, likely various broadleaf trees or shrubs
Flight PeriodMultiple generations, generally March to November, year-round in warmer parts of its range like Florida.
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Larvae are likely leaf-tiers or borers on their host plants, pupating in a cocoon. Specific larval details for this species are not well-documented.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size (12-14mm wingspan), the mottled gray-brown forewing pattern, and the distinctive, strongly upturned labial palps that extend forward from the head.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled gray and brown forewings, featuring darker speckles and indistinct spots. It has prominent, upturned labial palps that give its head a 'snout-like' appearance.
