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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Pterophoridae 63a0074 – 6104   Megalorhipida leucodactylus (Fabricius, 1794)              Spiderling Plume Moth

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Amaranthus Boerhavia Mimosa Okenia Scaevola Vachellia.  Host genera: Amaranthus Boerhavia Mimosa Okenia Scaevola Vachellia.  Host extended: Amaranthus, Boerhavia, Mimosa, Okenia, Scaevola, Vachellia.  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: leucodactylus (Fabricius, 1794) (Pterophorus) - MONA 1983: [NEW] adelphodes (Meyrick, 1887) (Trichoptilus) centetes (Meyrick, 1886) (Trichoptilus) compsochares (Meyrick, 1886) (Trichoptilus) congrualis (Walker, 1864) (Pterophorus) defectalis (Walker, 1864) (Pterophorus) - MONA 1983: [6104] derelictus (Meyrick, 1926) (Trichoptilus) hawaiiensis (Butler, 1881) (Aciptilia) ochrodactylus (Fish, 1881) (Trichoptilus) oxydactylus (Walker, 1864) (Pterophorus) palaestinensis Amsel, 1935 (Megalorrhipida [sic]) ralumensis (Pagenstecher, 1900) (Trichoptilus) subtilis (Rebel, 1907) (Trichoptilus) Taxonomic Notes: Megalorhipida leucodactylus (Fabricius, 1794) includes as a synonym 6104 Megalorhipida defectalis (Walker, 1864).

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Gielis, C., 2006. Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part I: Ochyroticinae, Deuterocopinae, Pterophorinae (Platyptiliini, Exelastini, Oxyptilini) (Lepidoptera). Zoologische Mededelingen, 80-2 (1): 1-290. Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at iNaturalist

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