Titian Peale's Moth
Common NameTitian Peale's Moth
Scientific NamePalpita flegia
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilySpilomelinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, scrub, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Texas, Arizona, California) south through Mexico, Central America, and into South America
Host PlantsForestiera, Ligustrum, Olea
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical areas; multiple generations from spring to fall in subtropical regions
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; larvae feed on the leaves of host plants, primarily in the Oleaceae family, before pupating and emerging as adults.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive mottled brownish-tan forewings combined with a prominent, crescent-shaped white spot on each forewing. The overall size and shape are typical of the genus Palpita.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with mottled brownish-tan forewings, each featuring a prominent, somewhat crescent-shaped white spot near the center. The hindwings are typically paler.
