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Pterophoridae 63a0110 – 6210   Hellinsia balanotes (Meyrick, 1908)              Baccharis Borer

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Asteraceae Myricaceae.  Host genera: Baccharis Myrica Pluchea.  Notes: stem (Robinson et al 2002); initially a leaf miner and later a stem borer (Eiseman 2020); [it is possible Myrica & Pluchea records are in doubt].  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: 63a0110.1 Hellinsia serenus Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: balanotes (Meyrick, 1908) (Pterophorus) - MONA 1983: 6210; TL: S. Florida, U.S., Titusville. aquila (Meyrick, 1908) (Pterophorus); TL: Texas.

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., 2003. Pterophoroidea & Alucitoidea (Lepidoptera). World Catalogue of Insects, 4: 1-198. Gielis, C., 2011. Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part II: Pterophorinae (Oidaematophorini, Pterophorini) (Lepidoptera). Zoologische Mededelingen, 85(10): 589-824. Matthews, D.L. & C.V. Covell, 2021. Common Names Of North American Plume Moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). Southern Lepidopterists' News, 43(2): 123-148. Matthews, D.L., 2016. Pterophoridae of North America - "Plume Moths". Online self-published. website Meyrick, E., 1907. XXVII. Notes and Descriptions of Pterophoridae and Orneodidae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1907 503. 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 Block Island Moths Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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