Pegasus Chalcoela Moth

Description:

AKA Wasp Parasitizer Moth. "Pegasus" perhaps refers to the white mark on the forewing, resembling the raised wing of the mythical flying horse. The wingspan 14-18 mm. The adult forewing is brown in basal and terminal areas, and densely speckled with gray in median area. The AM and PM lines are white and thick. The AM line either smoothly rounded or slightly wavy. The PM line with large V-shaped lobe projecting toward outer margin. It has a small but distinct white strip at the apex. The hindwing is mostly speckled gray with two diffuse blackish patches in lower median area. The central portion of fringe checkered with metallic blackish and pale scales, bordered proximally by a thick white strip.

Habitat:

Their range is southern Ontario and Maryland to Florida, east to Texas and north to Illinois. They also occurs in Jamaica, the French Antilles, and perhaps elsewhere in the West Indies. They may be found around or sometimes in homes, or anywhere in the vicinity of Polistes wasp (paper wasps) nests. The adults are nocturnal and come to light. They fly from May to September. They are parasitoids, feeding on the larvae of paper wasps (Polistes wasps).

Notes:

I could barely see this it was maybe an 1/8 to a 1/16 of an inch. Tiny speck. Found under the porch light.