Pink-masked Pyralid (Aglossa disciferalis)

Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis)

Yellow-fringed Dolochomia (Hypsopygia olinalis)

Red-shawled Moth (H. intermedialis)

Pink-fringed Dolochomia (H. binodulalis)

#pyralidae #MothComparison #lepidoptera #moth #moths #MothsMatter #TeamMoth #MothsOfOklahoma #macrophotography #naturephotography

Xestia c-nigrum

Six species of Caloptilia Moths

Left column:

Willow Leafcone Caloptilia (C. stigmatella)

Tick-Trefoil Caloptilia (C. violacella)

Sumac Leaf Blotch Miner (C. rhoifoliella)

Right column:

Chinese Tallow Leafminer (C. triadicae)

Walnut Caloptilia (C. blandella)

Dogwood Caloptilia (C. belfragella)

These moths are all from the same genus, Caloptilia. They are tiny and kind of funny looking. I guess because of their tiny head and posture they remind me of the muppet with the tiny head, Pepé the King Prawn.

These are all leafminer moths, which means that they spend their larval (caterpillar) phase inside the leaves of the host plants. Each species specializes in one species of genus of plants and most of the moths are named after their host plants.

#mothcomparison #caloptilia #gracillariidae #lepidoptera #moth #moths #MothsMatter #TeamMoth #MothsOfOklahoma #macrophotography #naturephotography #leafminers

Olive Arta (Arta olivalis)

Ochre Parachma (Parachma ochracealis)

Posturing Arta (Arta statalis)

Trumpet Vine Moth (Clydonopteron sacculana)

Boxwood Leaftier (Galasa nigrinodis)

These five small species are all from the Chrysauginae (Scaly-legged Pyralids) subfamily of Pyralidae family of moths. They have a similar wing shape and an easily recognizable posture, with their front legs propping them up.

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You’d be forgiven for confusing a few of these moths for the same species, but they are all, in fact, separate species from the same genus. The experts caution that identifications from photos alone is not always possible. Furthermore, the DNA analysis of these species has found them to be very closely related, suggesting their speciation (separation into different species) occurred fairly recently. There are 26 species from this genus that are known to occur in North America.

Lespedeza Webworm Moth (P. scortealis)

Sycamore Webworm Moth (P. militella)

Maple Webworm Moth (P. asperatella)

Gray-banded Pococera (P. maritimalis)

Striped Oak Webworm Moth (P. expandens)

#MothComparison #Pococera #Pyralidae

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Here we have the male (left) and female (right) Red-banded Leafroller. I’ve been surprised by the variation in this species several times and wondered if I was looking at this species or something else. I just learned that the species is sexually dimorphic, with the males being a little darker overall, mostly a dirty brown, with less contrast. Meanwhile the females have a richer brown contrasting with a light brown that is almost gold. This is especially true in the basal (top) half of the wing.

The specific epithet “velutinana” means velvety for the appearance of the wings. I’ve personally seen more velvety wings on other species of moths, but… I didn’t name it.

#RedBandedLeafroller #Argyrotaenia #ArgyrotaeniaVelutinana #SexualDimorphism #Tortricidae #lepidoptera #moth #moths #MothsMatter #TeamMoth #MothsOfOklahoma #macrophotography #naturephotography