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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Hepialidae 110014 – 0035   Phymatopus californicus (Boisduval, 1868)              Lupine Ghost Moth

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Asteraceae.  Host genera: Baccharis Eriophyllum.  Host extended: roots, possibly up to two years (Powell & Opler 2009).  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: californicus (Boisduval, 1868) (Hepialus) - MONA 1983: 35 baroni (Behrens, 1876) (Hepialus) mendocinolus (Behrens, 1876) (Hepialus) rectus (Edwards, 1881) (Hepialus) sequoiolus (Behrens, 1876) (Hepialus)

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. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 13.4m, 13.5f; p. 36. Book Review and ordering 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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