yarrow plume moth

(Gillmeria pallidactyla)

yarrow plume moth
Photo by Alfredo Colon
  Hodges #

6107

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Yarrow plume moth is common and widespread throughout Europe and across North America. it is found from June to August in a wide variety of dry or damp areas, including gardens and waste places.

The body is long, narrow, and pale tan. The upper body is marked with a narrow stripe in the middle (middorsal) and a similar stripe on each side. The stripes may be dark brown, light brown, or barely visible.

The wings are held out perpendicular to the body when at rest. The forewings narrow at the base, flared and at least twice as wide at the tip, are deeply notched at the tip. The leading edge (costal margin) of each forewing is straight for three-quarters of its length, then gently convex to the tip. The inner margin is straight and slightly angles backward at the base, then very gently concave to the tip. The basal and median areas have dark brown shading that creates a slanting pale streak between them in the central median area. The costal margin is dark brown, and this widens out into a dark brown triangle at the postmedial line. There is often a small very dark spot at the tip of the triangle.

When at rest, the hindwings are folded within the forewing and are not visible from above.

The legs are pale brown and very long. The third leg segment (femur) on the front and middle legs is dark brown. The middle leg has a pair of long spurs at the end of the fourth leg segment (tibia). The hind leg has two pairs of spurs on the tibia, one pair in the middle, one pair at the tip. The area between the pairs of spurs is entirely medium brown and has no dark brown rings.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: to 11 16

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry or damp areas, including gardens and waste areas

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

June to August

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

During the day adults hide low on foliage. They become active at dusk, are attracted to light, and will come to lights. They rest with their wings spread out at right angles, in a T-shaped profile, like an airplane.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The larvae overwinters in the soil among the roots of the host plant. In the spring it enters young shoots and creates mines as it feeds. In late spring or early summer it pupates on the stem or on a leaf. Adults emerge and are active from June through July.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Leaves and stems of mostly common yarrow and possibly also common tansy

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

21, 24, 29, 30, 75.

 
  11/17/2018      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common and widespread

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Pterophoroidea (plume moths and allies)  
 

Family

Pterophoridae (plume moths)  
 

Subfamily

Pterophorinae  
 

Tribe

Platyptiliini  
 

Genus

Gillmeria  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Platyptilus adustus

Platyptilus bischoffi

Platyptilia pallidactyla

Pterophorus cervinidactylus

Pterophorus marginidactylus

Pterophorus migadactylus

Pterophorus nebulaedactylus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

yarrow plume

yarrow plume moth

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Costal margin

The leading edge of the forewing of insects.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    yarrow plume moth   yarrow plume moth  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

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Slideshows
 

Gillmeria pallidactyla - Hodges#6107
Andree Reno Sanborn

  Gillmeria pallidactyla - Hodges#6107  
45.008 (1504) Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla
Sue Davies
  45.008 (1504) Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla  
     

 

slideshow

       
 
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  Alfredo Colon
8/31/2018

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

yarrow plume moth  
  Alfredo Colon
6/10/2018

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

yarrow plume moth  
           
 
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