Snapdragon Plume Moth: Appearance, Territory, Damage and Life Cycle

Latin name: Stenoptilodes Antirrhina

Appearances: Plume moths have long, slender legs and bodies. They have a 15 to 25 mm wingspan and are white or brownish. Because the members of this genus are so closely related, it might be difficult to tell which species is involved when looking at adult specimens. Egg – Some plume moths lay eggs with unique reticulations on them. Description of the pest and its effects the adult is a grey to tan T-shaped moth with 0.5-inch wingspread and slender, plumed wings. When fully grown, the little greenish larvae are about 0.5 inch long. Adults are poor flyers and spend much of their time on or near the host plant.

Host Plants: Snapdragon and geranium are the two types of ornamental plants that plume moths most commonly attack in the Southeast. Plume moth larvae mine the leaves and feed on leaves, buds, and flower components from the outside.

Territory: The snapdragon plume moth, Stenoptilodes antirrhina, belongs to the Pterophoridae family of moths. It is known from California, as well as greenhouses in the south-eastern United States that have received snapdragon cuttings from California.

Damage Caused: The snapdragon plume moth (Platyptilia antirrhina) bores into stems and kills them. The wingspan ranges from 15 to 25 mm.

Antirrhinum species (including Antirrhinum majus) and Pelargonium x hortorum are eaten by the larvae. Young larvae mine the leaves before burrowing into the stem, petioles, flowers, or seed pods as adults.

Life Cycle and Habits: In the United States, there are more than 40 species of plume moths belonging to the genus Platyptilia. The geranium plume moth and the snapdragon plume moth are two economically important representatives of this genus. Eggs can be laid singly anywhere on the plant, although they’re most commonly found on newly formed flowers or the undersides of terminal young growth leaves. In 2 to 3 weeks, the eggs will hatch. Young larvae mine in leaves before burrowing into stems, petioles, flowers, or seed pods as adults. The larvae develop through four instars in three to five weeks. The caterpillars emerge as pupae that cling to the plant upside down.

Adults are poor flyers and spend much of their time on or near the host plant. Early evening is when the moths are most active. The adult stage overwinters if hibernation is required; however, plume moths are not well adapted to hibernation or aestivation.