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Petrophila confusalis
Size: forewing length 5-11 mm. Adults have considerable size variation. Life Cycle: adult females enter the water, up to 4 meters deep, to oviposit (200 - 300 eggs), carrying a plastronlike layer of air as a source of oxygen that sustains them from 4 to 12 hours. After ovipositing they die in the water. Some females only submerge partially, without fully breaking the water tension, and deposit eggs shallowly over several days
Range: Throughout eastern United States and California to Oregon Food: larvae feed on algea on rocks in fast moving streams
Porch light visitor about 3/8 inch. I'm guessing that my water fall features have brought this to me.
Spotted on Nov 9, 2012
Submitted on Nov 10, 2012
5 Comments
Thanks J. ") I like that name better.
That's a very nice spotting! The common name is Confusing Petrophila Moth.
Well that's good news. Don't you just love it when things fall into place? ")
Oh wow nexttogone...I found the exact same moth down here in Los Angeles and you have helped me Id it as well !
Thanks for the favorites, J and SatyenM. I found it's ID if your interested.