{{short description|Species of plume moth}} {{Redirect|Geranium plume moth|the other moth with this common name|Sphenarches anisodactylus{{!}}''Sphenarches anisodactylus''}} {{Speciesbox | name= Geranium plume moth | image = Amblyptilia pica.jpg | image_caption = | taxon = Amblyptilia pica | authority = (Walsingham, 1880) | synonyms = * ''Amblyptilus pica'' <small>Walsingham, 1880</small> * ''Platyptilia pica'' * ''Platyptilia monticola'' <small>Grinnell, 1908</small> * ''Platyptilia crataea'' <small>T. B. Fletcher, 1940</small> * ''Platyptilia pica calisequoiae'' <small>Lange, 1950</small> * ''Platyptilia pica marina'' <small>Lange, 1950</small> * ''Platyptilia pica sierra'' <small>Lange, 1950</small>}}
'''''Amblyptilia pica''''', the '''geranium plume moth''', is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. The species was first described by Baron Walsingham in 1880.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=06118 |title=460051.00 – 6118 – ''Amblyptilia pica'' – Geranium Plume Moth – (Walsingham, 1880) |website=North American Moth Photographers Group |publisher=Mississippi State University |accessdate=March 25, 2018}}</ref> It is found in western North America from Alaska to California, inland to Alberta and Kansas. It is also found in the north-eastern United States and Ontario.<ref>{{cite web |last=McLeod |first=Robin |date=December 2, 2006 |url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/48046 |title=Species ''Amblyptilia pica'' - Geranium Plume Moth - Hodges#6118 |website=BugGuide |accessdate=25 March 2018}}</ref>
The wingspan is {{convert|18|-|23|mm}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/61314#page/63/mode/1up|title=The Pterophoridae of North America|via=Biodiversity Library|accessdate=June 24, 2011}}</ref> Adults have dark grey forewings mottled with black. They are on wing in spring and fall and have been recorded feeding on the flower nectar of ''Salix'' species.
The larvae feed on Scrophulariaceae, Geraniaceae, Primulaceae, Labiatae and Caprifoliaceae species, including ''Castilleja'' species, ''Pedicularis furbishiae'' and ''Scrophularia californica'', ''Penstemon whippleanus''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Robinson, E. |author2=Macaulay, D. A. |author3=Anweiler, G. G. |name-list-style=amp |url=https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-1823 |title=Species Details ''Amblyptilia pica'' |website=University of Alberta Museums |publisher=E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum |access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> and mine the leaves. The species overwinters as an adult.
==Taxonomy== A number of subspecies has been described, but it is unclear which, if any, are still valid: * ''Amblyptilia pica pica'' * ''Amblyptilia pica calisequoiae'' <small>(Lange, 1950)</small> * ''Amblyptilia pica marina'' <small>(Lange, 1950)</small> * ''Amblyptilia pica sierrae'' <small>(Lange, 1950)</small> * ''Amblyptilia pica monticola'' <small>(Grinnell, 1908)</small> * ''Amblyptilia pica crataea'' <small>(T. B. Fletcher, 1940)</small>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Moths described in 1880 Category:Amblyptilia Category:Moths of North America
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