wedgling moth

(Galgula partita)

wedgling moth
Photo by Babette Kis
  Hodges #

9688

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Wedgling moth is a small, locally common, midget moth. It occurs in the United States east of the Great Plains and west of the Rocky Mountains. It also occurs in southern Canada from Nova Scotia to Ontario, in Mexico, and in Central America. Larvae are food specialists, feeding only on wood sorrels. Adults are found from May to September in woodlands and in gardens.

Adults are 716 to ½ (11 to 13 mm) in length and have a ¾ to 1 (20 to 26 mm) wingspan. Moth size is sometimes given in terms of forewing length, which in this case is to ½ (10 to 12 mm).

The forewings are pointed. On the male the background color is light yellowish-brown or orangish-brown. The kidney-shaped (reniform) and orbicular spots have a pale outline and are filled with the background color. There is a dark brown patch on the inner margin between the orbicular spot and the reniform spot. The postmedial (PM) line is represented by an inner reddish-brown line and an outer light yellow line. It is slightly curved and angled inward. The remaining lines are very faint. Between the PM line and the subterminal (ST) line there is a row of dark dots on the veins. The area between the ST line and the terminal line is sometimes dark. The hindwing is light grayish-brown, getting slightly darker approaching the outer margin.

On the female the forewings are shiny and dark maroon, darkest from the PM line to the base, and orangish or reddish on the inner margin. The patch on the outer margin is only slightly darker than the background color. The PM line has some white at the inner margin. The dark spots between the PM and ST lines are coupled with smaller white spots. The hindwing is dark blackish gray.

On both sexes the antennae are thread-like, and the head and thorax are the same color as the forewing.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: 716 to ½ (11 to 13 mm)

Wingspan: ¾ to 1 (20 to 26 mm)

Forewing length: to ½ (10 to 12 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Woodlands and gardens

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Several generations per year: May to September

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults are active at night and will come to lights.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

wood sorrels (Oxalis spp.)

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82, 83.

 
  4/3/2023      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Locally common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Noctuoidea (owlet moths and allies)  
 

Family

Noctuidae (cutworm moths and allies)  
 

Subfamily

Noctuinae (cutworms and dart moths)  
 

Tribe

Elaphriini (midgets)  
 

Genus

Galgula  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Euclidia externa

Galgula hepara

Galgula interna

Galgula sorex

Galgula subpartita

Hydrelia ferruginea

Rivula mandane

Telesilla vesca

Thalpochares baueri

Thalpochares bias

Thalpochares hippotamada

Thalpochares novarae

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

the wedgling

wedgling moth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Orbicular spot

A circular spot or outline in the upper median area near the antemedial line on the forewing of many moths.

 

Reniform spot

A kidney-shaped spot or outline in the lower median area near the PM line on the forewing of many moths.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Babette Kis

 
 

Galgula partita (wedgling moth)

 
    wedgling moth      
           
 
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Other Videos
 
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Emeraldrayv3n
 
   
 
About

Oct 22, 2020

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
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Created: 4/3/2023

Last Updated:

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