Agonopterix pulvipennella — Featherduster Agonopterix

(Clemens, 1864)

Hodges# 0867

Etymology

Agonopterix: Combines the Greek agon, meaning “contest” or “an assembly,” and pterix, meaning “wing.”

pulvipennella: Combines the Latin pulv, meaning “powder” or “dust,” and penn, meaning “feather or plume,” with the suffix ella for “small.”

Pronunciation

ag-uhn-op-triks puhl-vi-pen-el-uh

Other Common Names

Goldenrod leaffolder

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the verified sightings of the featherduster agonopterix in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Documented North American Sightings as of 3/16/2020

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2022-05-20	Brown	Byers, Ronda	Adult
2022-04-20	Brown	Byers, Ronda	Adult
2022-03-21	Hamilton	McCord, Dan	Adult
2022-03-20	Brown	Byers, Ronda	Adult
2021-10-18	Boone	Jaskula, Jeanette
2021-09-01	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-07-16	Hamilton	McCord, Dan	Adult
2021-07-10	Marion	Schwedler, Kat	Adult
2021-05-17	Scott	Kant, Nancy	Adult
2021-04-24	Brown	Byers, Ronda	Adult

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2022-05-20 County: Brown Observer: Byers, Ronda Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-04-20 County: Brown Observer: Byers, Ronda Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-03-21 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-03-20 County: Brown Observer: Byers, Ronda Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-10-18 County: Boone Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2021-09-01 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-16 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-10 County: Marion Observer: Schwedler, Kat Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-17 County: Scott Observer: Kant, Nancy Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-04-24 County: Brown Observer: Byers, Ronda Notes: Adult

Agonopterix pulvipennella Sightings by Month

Notes

• This moth overwinters as an adult.

Floral Associates

Featherduster agonopterix caterpillars feed on goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and nettles (Urtica spp.) and have also been reported feeding on Eupatorium species.

Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Asterales
Asteraceae	Solidago spp.	goldenrod
Order: Asterales
	Eupatorium spp.	boneset, thoroughwort, and joe-pye weed
Order: Rosales
Urticaceae	Urtica spp.	nettles