Himmelman's Plume Moth, Geina tenuidactyla

Moth Family: Pterophoridae -  Plume Moths / Geina tenuidactyla (Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092)
Live adult moths photographed at West Chicago Prairie and Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve, DuPage County IL on June 19 & 22, 2005.
Size: Body sans antennae: 8mm / Wingspan: 19mm

This little moth stunned me when I got this shot home and onto the big screen. I never know what things this small really look like in the field. The thorn camouflage is amazing. Thanks to Bob Patterson for the ID.

Plume moths are easily recognized by their characteristic "T"-shaped resting posture and the lobed or divided wings of most species. While the family Pterophoridae is easily identified, species determinations are more challenging, often requiring dissection and preparation of genitalia slides. The usual resting posture is with the wings extended laterally and narrowly rolled up. Often they resemble a piece of dried grass, and may pass unnoticed by potential predators even when resting in exposed situations in daylight. Some species have larvae which are stem- or root-borers while others are leaf-browsers.

There are currently 154 described species known from North America north of Mexico.