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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Erebidae 930622 – 8534   Plusiodonta compressipalpis Guenée, 1852              Moonseed Moth

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Distribution: Apparently a mostly eastern species. Specimens from Arizona identified as compressipalpis in BIN BOLD:AAB7158 appear to represent a cryptic species well separated by DNA barcode. Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Menispermaceae.  Host genera: Menispermum Cocculus.  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: compressipalpis Guenée, 1852 (Plusiodonta) - MONA 1983: 8534; TL: unknown. insignis Walker, 1865 (Plusiodonta); TL: Georgia.

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. Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:AAB7156 (true compressipalpis) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification. Barcode of Life (BOLD) - BIN: BOLD:AAB7158 (cryptic sp. from AZ nr. compressipalpis) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification. Guenée, M.A., 1852. Noctuelites, 2. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères, 6: 359. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 43.22m; p. 256. 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 Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist Walker, F., 1865. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, 33: 842.

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