GOLDENROD BORER PLUME MOTH
Hellinsia kellicottii
PLUME MOTHS (Pterophoridae)
The Goldenrod Borer Plume Moth has a wingspan of approximately 1 inch. The wings and abdomen are a light tan color. The wings are long and very narrow. Near the apex of the forewing are 2 small black spots. A third black spot is about 2/3 toward the distal end of the wing. There is a faint, dark line along the costa between the 2 black spots. There is a pale brown line down the middle of the abdomen. The legs and antennae are white. One identifying characteristic is the length of the wing which is equal to the length of the abdomen
The frequency of occurrence in this area is not known. One moth was photographed at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center on June 30, 2016. Adults fly from spring to fall. They are usually found on plants or foliage during the day, but they will also come to lights at night
The caterpillars feed on goldenrod. The young larvae bore into a stem on the upper part of the plant. Before the 3rd instar, it moves down through a lateral hole in the plant stem to a more mature, wider stem. It makes another hole and bores down toward the roots. Adults feed on nectar or pollen.
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