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Field Guide Descriptions: | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Pogue (1988) | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Pogue (1988) | |
| Adult Markings: This is a rather nondescript moth. The head, palps, thorax and ground color of the forewings of the males consist of a mosaic of tan and light brown patches, along with scattered groups of black-tipped scales. Collectively, these produce an overall brownish-tan appearance. The only conspicuous marks are a darker brown median costal spot and a subterminal, posteriorly oblique band of similar color. The latter extends from the subapical region of the costa to near the dorsal third of the termen, but on some specimens may terminate or become markedly contracted near the middle of the wing. The hindwing varies from dirty white to light grayish-brown. The females have the same markings as the males, but are cinnamon colored (Pogue, 1988). |
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| Forewing Length: 3.7-4.5 mm for males and 4.0-4.5 mm for females (Pogue, 1988). |
| Adult Structural Features: Pogue (1988) has illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia (also see structural photos below). |
| Structural photos |
Valve of a male from Carteret Co. |
Aedeagus of a male from Carteret Co. |
Female genitalia; Carteret Co., |
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| Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens. |
| Immatures and Development: The larvae specialize on Baccharis halimifolia. Diatloff and Palmer (1988) summarized their observations of the life history based on field observations in the eastern US and reared larvae in Australia. The females lay whitish, translucent eggs along the midrib on the upper surface of fully expanded leaves. The larvae hatch in 10 to 20 days and the hatchlings first feed on nearby leaves. After 2 to 3 days, each larva moves to a growing tip and fuses young leaves together with silk to form a protective tube. The larva lives within this tube, but leaves it periodically to feed on adjacent leaves. The leaves and the growing point in the tube usually die so that further growth of the stem is arrested. Pupation occurs within the tube, and the life cycle is completed in 4-6 weeks. |
| Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants. |