Sighting 1358442
Pine Powder Moth
Eufidonia convergaria
Observation date: June 07, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: None.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: June 07, 2023
Coordinator notes: A slight bit of research done for this genus. Looked at the maps on MPG and BG. There is a note regarding Eufidonia convergaria on Info pages for both E. notataria and E. convergaria -- "Eufidonia convergaria is separated by dissection." In addition on the general info page for Eufidonia is the following -- "All three species are variable and very similar in appearance. In some cases, larvae may be identified to species based on host plant association, but genitalia dissection is required to confirm species identification of adults." I then searched the "Checklist of Wisconsin Moths" and found that only two of the three species were listed. E. discospilata is usually found in bogs and barrens and E. convergaria larvae feed on various species of pine, including lodgepole pine (Pinus contortus) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana), hemlock, tamarack and spruce. So with all that information, I think I'll ID this as E. convergaria unless you tell me that you are living next to a bog in which case I may have to reconsider:) In any case, this was educational for me. Since Eufidonia notataria was not listed on the checklist, I've decided to leave it off as a suggestion for Wisconsin unless the moth is dissected to determine ID. So in other words this ID is just a guess.
Checklist region(s): United States, Wisconsin, Chippewa County