Platyptilia carduidactyla

Artichoke plume moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pterophoridae
Genus:	Platyptilia
Species:	P. carduidactyla
Binomial name
Platyptilia carduidactyla (Riley, 1869)
Synonyms
Platyptilia carduidactylus (Riley, 1869) Pterophorus carduidactylus Riley, 1869 Platyptilia cardui Zeller, 1873 Platyptilia hesperis Grinnell, 1908

Platyptilia carduidactyla, the artichoke plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae described by Riley in 1869. It is found in New Zealand and North America, from Mexico north into the United States.

The wingspan is 19–32 mm. Adults are on wing in July in Mexico and from May to September further north.

The larvae feed on Arctium, Carduus, Cirsium, Cynara and Silybum species. They are a pest of Cynara scolymus. The females lay their eggs on the bottom side of artichoke plants. The caterpillars can cause considerable damage.

External links

• University of California - Statewide Integrated Pest Management
• Gielis, C. (2006). "Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part I: Ochyroticinae, Deuterocopinae, Pterophorinae (Platyptiliini, Exelastini, Oxyptilini) (Lepidoptera)". Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden. 80–2 (1).