Trichoptilus pygmaeus

Trichoptilus pygmaeus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in North America, including California, Florida[2] and British Columbia.[3]

Trichoptilus pygmaeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pterophoridae
Genus: Trichoptilus
Species:
T. pygmaeus
Binomial name
Trichoptilus pygmaeus

The wingspan is about 10 millimetres (0.39 in). The head and thorax are pale fawn in color. The abdomen is whitish, with a tinge of fawn color on the sides and above posteriorly. The forewings are very pale fawn color, dusted with fuscous brown scales along the costa, especially above the base of the fissure and near the base of the hind margin. Two indistinct white stripes cross the lobes of the forewings, one beyond and the other before the middle, cutting the fawn-colored fringes on each side. The hindwings are pale greyish-brown, with cinereous fringes interrupted with white behind and at the apex.[4]

The larvae feed on Chrysopsis scabrella and Arctostaphylos columbiana.[5] They feed on the young leaves and bracts of unopened flowers of Chrysopsis species.

Taxonomy

Trichoptilus potentellus is sometimes listed as a synonym of Trichoptilus pygmaeus.

References
  1. Moth Photographers Group
  2. Annotated Checklist of the Pterophoridae (Lepidoptera) of Florida
  3. Checklist: Order of Lepidoptera in BC
  4. "The pterophoridae of North America". Biodiveristy Library. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  5. "Annotated Checklist of the Pterophoridae (Lepidoptera) of Florida" (PDF). Plume moth. Retrieved 22 June 2011.


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