Three more moths have been added to Nebraska’s moth list. On September 12 Eli Weber attracted a Thelma’s Agonopterix to lights at Elmwood Park in Omaha. This moth has been found in the eastern United States with central Iowa being the previous westernmost record. It’s larval hostplants are unknown.
Then on September 22 Eli was running lights at Pioneer Park in Lincoln when he found/photographed a White-spotted Chionodes. This moth has been found from the East Coast westward into Oklahoma, Texas and now Nebraska. Larvae are leaf skeletonizers feeding on Oaks.
On October 8 Elizabeth Hilkermann found a Sri Lanka Plume Moth at her home in southern Lancaster County. This species has been found in the southeastern United States. The next nearest record is from central Missouri making this a significant range extension to the northwest. Larvae of plume moths feed on herbaceous plants. Hostplant preference(s) of this particular species are unknown.
Thanks to Eli and Elizabeth for documenting the diverse Lepidopteran fauna found in our state.