Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 958206

Cotton Stem Moth
Platyedra subcinerea

Observation date: February 08, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: been seeing more and more moths, does rain and warmth trigger hatching. this one is about a half inch long, lands with wings folded back. on wall in house. we get lots of the similar moths if some of these require a specimen we could submit one. not sure how that is done.Days have been mild most of the winter, and getting days are getting longer. the moon coming back with more light might bring the moths to a higher activity level? not sure if we have submitted this one before?
Status: Unknown
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: February 11, 2014
Coordinator notes: Good question about submitting a specimen for examination, and I don't have a good answer. There are only a few moth experts. If I think I know the identity with some certainty and see that it's a rare moth, I have emailed experts (for a particular family) and asked if they would like to have my specimen. I have mailed live specimen and pinned ones depending on what they want. I do this very infrequently.
Checklist region(s): United States, California, Orange County