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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Pterophoridae 63a0020 – 6144   Stenoptilia zophodactylus (Duponchel, 1838)              Dowdy Plume Moth

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Gentianaceae.  Host genera: Blackstonia Centaurium Gentianella Zeltnera[=Centaurium].  Host extended: blotch miner on various Gentianaceae, later in buds & developing fruit (Eiseman 2020).  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: zophodactylus (Duponchel, 1838) (Pterophorus) - MONA 1983: 6144 canalis (Walker, 1864) (Pterophorus) loewii (Zeller, 1847) (Pterophorus) semicostatus (Zeller, 1873) (Mimeseoptilus)

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. Gielis, C., 2006. Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part I: Ochyroticinae, Deuterocopinae, Pterophorinae (Platyptiliini, Exelastini, Oxyptilini) (Lepidoptera). Zoologische Mededelingen, 80-2 (1): 1-290. 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 iNaturalist

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Moth Photographers Group  at the  Mississippi Entomological Museum  at the  Mississippi State University

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