Aroga trialbamaculella explained

Aroga trialbamaculella, the red-striped fireworm moth, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found in the United States, where it has been recorded from Maine to Florida and from Illinois to Texas.[1]

The wingspan is about 12 mm. The forewings are dark brown with a small white spot on the fold before the middle. There also white spots at the costa and dorsally before the cilia.[2] Adults are mostly on wing from March to October, but have been recorded year round.

The larvae feed on Comptonia, Epigaea, Myrtus, Quercus ilicifolia, Quercus laevis, Robinia and Vaccinium ashei.[3] They skeletonize the leaves of their host plant. They fasten two or more leaves together and feed within on the epidermis. With the frass, they form a tube which is open on both sides. The larvae reach a length of about 8 mm. They are pale dirty yellowish or greenish yellow with six darker yellow stripes.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2198 mothphotographersgroup
  2. https://archive.org/stream/cincinnatiquarte12cinc#page/250/mode/1up Cincinnati Q. J. Sci. 2 (3): 250
  3. http://bugguide.net/node/view/504765 Bug Guide
  4. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7533414#page/930/mode/1up Busck, A., 1903. A revision of the American moths of the family Gelechiidae, with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25: 858