Amblyptilia pica explained
Amblyptilia pica, the geranium plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. The species was first described by Baron Walsingham in 1880.[1] It is found in western North America from Alaska to California, inland to Alberta and Kansas. It is also found in the north-eastern United States and Ontario.[2]
The wingspan is 18-.[3] Adults have dark grey forewings mottled with black. They are on wing in spring and fall and have been recorded feeding on the flower nectar of Salix species.
The larvae feed on Scrophulariaceae, Geraniaceae, Primulaceae, Labiatae and Caprifoliaceae species, including Castilleja species, Pedicularis furbishiae and Scrophularia californica, Penstemon whippleanus.[4] and mine the leaves. The species overwinters as an adult.
Taxonomy
A number of subspecies has been described, but it is unclear which, if any, are still valid:
- Amblyptilia pica pica
- Amblyptilia pica calisequoiae (Lange, 1950)
- Amblyptilia pica marina (Lange, 1950)
- Amblyptilia pica sierrae (Lange, 1950)
- Amblyptilia pica monticola (Grinnell, 1908)
- Amblyptilia pica crataea (T. B. Fletcher, 1940)
Notes and References
- Web site: 460051.00 – 6118 – Amblyptilia pica – Geranium Plume Moth – (Walsingham, 1880) . North American Moth Photographers Group . Mississippi State University . March 25, 2018.
- Web site: McLeod . Robin . December 2, 2006 . Species Amblyptilia pica - Geranium Plume Moth - Hodges#6118 . BugGuide . 25 March 2018.
- Web site: The Pterophoridae of North America. Biodiversity Library. June 24, 2011.
- Web site: Robinson, E. . Macaulay, D. A. . Anweiler, G. G. . amp . Species Details Amblyptilia pica . University of Alberta Museums . E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum . November 10, 2020.
