Sunflower plume moth facts for kids
Hellinsia helianthi (also known as the sunflower plume moth) is a small, interesting moth. It belongs to a group of moths called Pterophoridae, which are often called "plume moths" because their wings look like feathers. This moth gets its common name from the plants its young caterpillars love to eat: sunflowers!
Quick facts for kids Sunflower plume moth |
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Where Does the Sunflower Plume Moth Live?
You can find the sunflower plume moth in North America. It lives in places like California, Colorado, British Columbia, and Alberta. The first time scientists officially described this moth was in the Siskiyou Mountains in California.
What Does the Sunflower Plume Moth Look Like?
This moth is quite small, with a wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other) of about 21 to 29.5 millimeters. That's roughly the length of a few paperclips!
- Head and Body: Its head is usually brown, but it has whitish parts between its antennae. The antennae themselves are whitish with small brown dots. The main body (thorax) is the same color as its front wings. Its belly (abdomen) is similar, with dark gray-brown dots that can form a broken line down its back.
- Wings: The front wings are brownish-white or a light reddish-brown. They have a few scattered dark brown scales. Sometimes, you might see a small dark spot in the middle of the wing or a dark line near the wing's edge. A special feature is a rounded dark brown spot located before the wing splits into two parts. The feathery edges (fringes) of the wings match the wing color. The back wings are gray-brown.
What Do Sunflower Plume Moths Eat?
The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, have a favorite food: different kinds of sunflower plants! They munch on these plants as they grow.
