Amblyptilia pica

Amblyptilia pica, the geranium plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. 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]

"Geranium plume moth" redirects here. For the other moth with this common name, see Sphenarches anisodactylus.

Amblyptilia pica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pterophoridae
Genus: Amblyptilia
Species:
A. pica
Binomial name
Amblyptilia pica
Synonyms
  • Amblyptilus pica Walsingham, 1880
  • Platyptilia pica
  • Platyptilia monticola Grinnell, 1908
  • Platyptilia crataea T. B. Fletcher, 1940
  • Platyptilia pica calisequoiae Lange, 1950
  • Platyptilia pica marina Lange, 1950
  • Platyptilia pica sierra Lange, 1950

The wingspan is 18–23 millimetres (0.71–0.91 in).[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. They feed externally on the foliage and flower buds of their host plant, but also bore into the seedpods[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)
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References
  1. "460051.00 – 6118 – Amblyptilia pica – Geranium Plume Moth – (Walsingham, 1880)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  2. McLeod, Robin (December 2, 2006). "Species Amblyptilia pica - Geranium Plume Moth - Hodges#6118". BugGuide.Net. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. "The Pterophoridae of North America". Retrieved June 24, 2011 – via Biodiversity Library.
  4. University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum


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