About Amblyptilia pica (Walsingham, 1880)
Amblyptilia pica, commonly known as the geranium plume moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Pterophoridae. This species was first formally described by Baron Walsingham in 1880. It is distributed in western North America, ranging from Alaska to California, and extending inland to Alberta and Kansas. It also occurs in the northeastern United States and Ontario. The wingspan of adult Amblyptilia pica measures 18–23 millimetres (0.71–0.91 inches). Adults have dark grey forewings mottled with black. They are active as flying adults in spring and fall, and have been recorded feeding on flower nectar from Salix species. The larvae of Amblyptilia pica feed on plant species from the families Scrophulariaceae, Geraniaceae, Primulaceae, Labiatae, and Caprifoliaceae, including specific species such as Castilleja species, Pedicularis furbishiae, Scrophularia californica, and Penstemon whippleanus. The larvae mine the leaves of their host plants. This species overwinters in the adult life stage.
