Troy MO
8/31/15
Photo and ID thanks to Bruce Schuette.
Bruce wrote:
"A mystery has been solved and Missouri has a new species.
For several years we’ve been trying to identify tiny caterpillars we found in the seed heads of Rattlesnake Master that we collected for native plantings. A species of moth that had never been found in Missouri was suggested, but we could never get an adult to confirm the identification. Finally a few weeks ago several emerged from some Rattlesnake Master flower heads. This is the first picture to document it for the state, and where it was found.
Our new Missourian is a species of ‘twirler moth’. It seems kind of ironic that the tiny moth (only ¼ of an inch long) with no common name has such a long scientific name – Coleotechnites eryngiella. It is fitting though that the specific name ‘eryngiella’ indicates its association with Rattlesnake Master (in the genus ‘Eryngium’), on which it is totally dependent.
Our new moth is tiny. However, it shows the intricate relationships and dependence that often exist between species of plants and animals. It’s also pretty remarkable that we still have so many discoveries to make, almost in our backyards."
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