Hellinsia homodactylus
| Hellinsia homodactylus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pterophoridae |
| Genus: | Hellinsia |
| Species: | H. homodactylus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hellinsia homodactylus (Walker, 1864)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
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Hellinsia homodactylus is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is found in North America (including New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, California, Oregon, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta) and Guerrero in Mexico.
The wingspan is 22–27 mm. The head is white and the palpi and antennae are whitish. The thorax and abdomen are also white, as are the legs, although these are slightly tinged with cinereous. The forewings are white, very slightly dusted on the costa with brownish scales. There is a brownish spot before and slightly below the base of the fissure and a group of indistinct brownish scales between this and the base of the wing. There is also a faint indication of two brownish dots on the outer margin. The hindwings and fringes are pure white, with a silky lustre. In some specimens the brownish spots are absent.[2]
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Compsilura concinnata, Oxynops anthracinus, Pseudosiphona brevirostris and Tachinophyto floridensis.[3] They are pale yellowish green. Pupation takes place in a light pea green pupa, which turns white before the adult emerges.