BLUE-STREAKED TWIRLER
Strobisia iridipennella
TWIRLER MOTH FAMILY (Gelechiidae)
This little Twirler Moth has a total length of about 1/4 inch. The forewing is slender and dark brown with 3 iridescent blue streaks slanting from the costa to the middle of the wing. There are also 2 or 3 blue spots in the median area. The fringe is white. The legs are banded black and white.
The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known. The individual shown here was photographed at Neale Woods in early July 2014 on an Ironwood leaf.
There is not much known about this species. The larval habits of the Twirler Moths vary widely. They include leaf miners, leaf folders and tiers, gall makers and fruit and seed eaters. There are 886 species and 92 genera of Twirler Moths in North America.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.