Plume Moths of
Oswego County, New York
(Lepidoptera:
Pterophoridae)
by
Deborah Matthews and
Michelle Schneider
More than 25 species of
Pterophoridae have been recorded from New York State (Fitch 1854, Matthews
2006). Collecting, observation, rearing,
and photographic documentation by the authors in 1994, 1995, and 2012 produced
records of 15 species from the Oswego County area (see table below). At least one-third of the Pterophoridae use
Asteraceae (composites) as larval hosts (Matthews and Lott 2005). Nine of the recorded species from Oswego
County are associated with Asteraceae as larvae. Golden-rods (Solidago), Joe-pye weeds (Eupatorium),
and yarrow (Achillea) are larval
hosts to more than one species.
Asteraceae flowers, including common daisy (Bellis), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia),
and yarrow (Achillea) are important
nectar sources for adults of diurnal species.
These day flying species generally have contrasting dark and pale banded
markings on the wings, abdomen, and legs, as opposed to the solid or mottled
markings of species only active at dusk or night. In Oswego County, adults are in flight during
the months of June and July, with the exception of the morning glory plume
moth, Emmelina monodactyla which
overwinters in the adult stage. Adults
of this cosmopolitan species are common in August but have been observed alive
during the winter months. Larval hosts
known from Oswego County are listed in the table below. Larval hosts known from other areas can be
found in Matthews (2006) or Matthews and Lott (2005). Records of additional species from the county
are anticipated as our studies continue.
|
species
|
common name
|
larval host plants/part consumed
|
|
Adaina ambrosiae
|
ragweed
plume moth
|
Rudbeckia hirta (leaves)
|
|
Adaina montanus
|
northern
mountain plume
|
Solidago rugosa (leaves)
|
|
Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla
|
rose
plume moth
|
cultivated
roses (flower buds, shoots)
|
|
Dejongia lobidactylus
|
banded
golden-rod plume
|
Solidago rugosa & S. canadensis (leaves)
|
|
Emmelina monodactyla
|
morning
glory plume
|
Calystegia sepium (flower buds, shoots)
|
|
Geina periscelidactyla
|
grape
plume moth
|
Vitis palmata (leaves)
|
|
Geina sheppardi
|
Sheppard’s
plume moth
|
Vitis vulpina (flowers and leaves)
|
|
Geina tenuidactyla
|
blackberry
plume moth
|
Rubus alleghaniensis (shoots)
|
|
Gillmeria pallidactyla
|
yarrow
plume moth
|
Achillea millefolium (inflorescence shoots)
|
|
Hellinsia elliottii
|
Elliott’s plume moth
|
Eupatorium perfoliatum, E. fistulosum (leaves)
|
|
Hellinsia homodactylus
|
American
white plume
|
Solidago rugosa (shoots, young leaves)
|
|
Oidaematophorus eupatorii
|
Eupatorium
plume moth
|
Eupatorium fistulosum (shoots, young leaves)
|
|
Oidaematophorus mathewianus
|
Mathew’s
plume moth
|
Achillea millefolium (leaves)
|
|
Platyptilia carduidactyla
|
artichoke
plume moth
|
Cirsium discolor (shoots, stems, flowers)
|
|
Sphenarches ontario
|
grape
flower plume moth
|
flowers
of Vitis vulpina (flowers and
leaves)
|
References
Fitch, A. 1854. Report on the noxious
beneficial and other insects of the state of New York. Transactions of the
New York State Agricultural Society 14: 691-880.
Matthews, D.L. 2006. Larvae and Pupae of Nearctic Pterophoridae: A Synopsis of Life
Histories, Morphology, and Taxonomy (Lepidoptera: Pterophoroidea). PhD
Thesis, University of Florida, Gainesville. 959 pp.
Matthews, D.L. & Lott, T.A. 2005.
Larval Hostplants of the Pterophoridae (Lepidoptera: Pterophoroidea). Memoirs
of the American Entomological Institute 76: 1-324.
Geina tenuidactyla
adult nectaring on common daisy, 4 July 2012, © Michelle Schneider.
Geina tenuidactyla
adult nectaring on black-eyed Susan, 4 July 2012, © Michelle Schneider.
Dejongia lobidactylus adult nectaring on black-eyed Susan, 7 July 2012, © Michelle Schneider.
Dejongia lobidactylus adult nectaring on black-eyed Susan, 7 July 2012, © Michelle Schneider.
Emmelina monodactyla
perched on ceiling, 24 August 2012, © Michelle Schneider
Emmelina monodactyla,
23 November 2012, © Michelle Schneider