Streaked Ethmia Moth
Common NameStreaked Ethmia Moth
Scientific NameEthmia longimaculella
FamilyDepressariidae
SubfamilyEthmiinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorswhite, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, disturbed areas, and prairies where host plants are present.
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas.
Host PlantsLithospermum officinale, Lithospermum caroliniense, Lithospermum canescens
Flight PeriodMay to August (sometimes into September), often with two broods per year.
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the leaves of Gromwell plants, often creating silk tubes or webs. They undergo pupation in a cocoon, typically in leaf litter or soil, before emerging as adult moths.
Identification TipsEasily identified by its striking white and black spotted pattern on the forewings, slender body, and characteristic resting posture with wings folded tent-like over the body. The black markings are often elongated, contributing to the 'streaked' common name.
Description
A small, slender moth with bright white forewings heavily marked with numerous irregular black spots and streaks, giving it a distinctive speckled appearance. The head and thorax are also white with black markings.
