What moth has feathers?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
July 3, 2002
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading: Click here.
The many-plume moths (Alucitidae) are possibly the strangest of the "children of the night". Apparently, little is known of these moths, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Butterflies and Moths (V.J. Staněk, 1977) states an estimated 100 species "...mostly small and drably coloured, but each one of their wings is divided into six or more fine, feather-like structures, so it can be said, that instead of wings they have twenty-four 'feathers'."
Native to Eurasia and naturalized in North America is the twenty-plume moth (Alucita hexadactyla Linnaeus 1758). [ah lu' sit a hex' a dac' til a] The generic name means "gnat": the adult has only a 1.5 centimeter (6/10 inch) wingspan. The species epithet means "six-fingered", the fore and hind wings are divided into six narrow feathery lobes. Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) are host plants for the caterpillars.
In New South Wales and Queensland lives the tiny moth, Alucita phricodes Meyrick 1886 [fri co' des]. The species epithet means "rippling, shivering, or ruffling a smooth surface". This moth is similar in appearance, but smaller than the twenty-plume--only a one-centimeter wingspan. The moth does not take to wing easily, preferring to run when disturbed and flying only when necessary. The caterpillar is red and feeds on Pandora vines (Pandorea spp.). It spins a thin cocoon, pupating away from its host plant.
Jeff Higgott (UK Lepidoptera) has two photographs of the twenty-plume moth, Alucita hexadactyla. To view his photographs, click on the link:
Click here to view the photographs
CSIRO Entomology, has posted a photograph of the Australian plume moth, Alucita phricodes. To view the moth, click on the link:
Click here to view the moth
The Mediterranean Garden Society has photographs and information on the Wonga Wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana). To learn more about this beautiful vine, click on the link:
Click here to learn more
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What is the hickory horned devil? Renfield's Garden - June 4, 2003
What moth has feathers? Renfield's Garden - July 3, 2002
How does this blue-blood turn green? Renfield's Garden - August 21, 2002
What moth makes insect repellant? Renfield's Garden - August 28, 2002
What experiment turned into a yearly disaster? Plants that Changed History - December 25, 2001
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