wedgling moth

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

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 7⁄16″ 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 ⅜″ 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.

Total length: 7⁄16″ to ½″ (11 to 13 mm)

Wingspan: ¾″ to 1″ (20 to 26 mm)

Forewing length: ⅜″ to ½″ (10 to 12 mm)

Woodlands and gardens

Several generations per year: May to September

Adults are active at night and will come to lights.

wood sorrels (Oxalis spp.)

Sources

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

Locally common

Galgula partita (wedgling moth)