plume moths

(subfamily Pterophorinae)

Overview  •  Description  •  Distribution  •  Taxonomy

Overview

Pterophorinae is a large subfamily of plume moths. They are found all over the world, but they are most common in tropical and subtropical regions. There are three subfamilies of plume moths (family Pterophoridae). Only Pterophorinae occurs in the United States outside of California and Florida.

There are 83 Pterophorinae genera in 6 tribes worldwide. The exact number of species worldwide is unknown, but the number is over 1,000, and new species continue to be discovered. There are 146 species in 25 genera in 4 tribes in North America north of Mexico, and at least 18 species in 13 genera in 2 tribes in Minnesota.
 
plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)
Photo by Mike Poeppe
 

Pterophorinae moths are mostly herbivores, and their larvae feed on a wide variety of plants, including grasses, herbaceous plants, and shrubs. Some species are pests of agricultural crops, including the artichoke plume moth (Platyptilia carduidactyla) and the geranium plume moth (Platyptilia pica).

Adults are short-lived, usually surviving for only a few weeks. They rest with their wings held out at right angles to the body, the hindwings concealed beneath the forewings, in what has been called the “airplane posture.” They are active at night and will come to lights. During the day they can be found resting on walls or on vegetation.
Description

Pterophorinae range in size from the minute plume moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla), with a wingspan of just 3⁄16″ (5 mm), to the giant plume moth (Megalorhipida leucopterus), with a wingspan of 1 3⁄16″ (30 mm). The body is slender and brownish, gray, or white.

The antennae are long.

The legs are long, slender, and sometimes spiny. On the hind leg, the fourth segment (tibia) is two to three times longer than the third segment (femur).

The forewings are deeply notched at the tip, dividing the wing into two lobes. The hindwings are deeply divided into three lobes. The lobes of the hindwing are often fringed with long, sometimes curved filaments, giving the lobe a plume-like appearance resembling a bird’s feather.
Distribution

Distribution Map

  

Sources

24, 30, 82.
6/23/2025    
     

Occurrence

 
Taxonomy

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)

Superfamily

Pterophoroidea (plume moths and allies)

Family

Pterophoridae (plume moths)
   

Subordinate Taxa

Tribe Marasmarchini

Tribe Oidaematophorini

Tribe Oxyptilini

Tribe Platyptiliini

Tribe Pterophorini

Tribe Tetraschalini
   

Synonyms

 
   

Common Names

This subfamily has no common name. The common name of the Family Pterophoridae is plume moths, and it is applied here for convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Femur

On insects and arachnids, the third, largest, most robust segment of the leg, coming immediately before the tibia. On humans, the thigh bone.

 

Tibia

The fourth segment of an insect leg, after the femur and before the tarsus (foot). The fifth segment of a spider leg or palp. Plural: tibiae.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mike Poeppe
plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)   plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)

Alfredo Colon
plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)   plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)
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Mike Poeppe
6/22/2025

Location: near Houston, MN

 plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)
Alfredo Colon
7/8/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

plume moth (subfamily Pterophorinae)
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Created: 7/16/2023

Last Updated:

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