Insect
Fire-flag Plume Moth
Sphenarches anisodactylusAlso known as Geranium Plume Moth
Fire-flag plume moths are tiny, delicate insects easily recognized by their feathery, deeply cleft wings that resemble slender T-shapes at rest. Their slender caterpillars feed on a wide variety of host plants, including geraniums, hibiscuses, and gourds, making them widespread in warm temperate and tropical landscapes. When disturbed, adults flutter briefly with jerky flight before settling back onto foliage, where their muted brownish coloration blends seamlessly into stems and dry leaves.
MicrolepidopteraNocturnalPollinator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGeranium foliage, Gourd flower buds, Flower nectar
Predators
- Spiders
- Bats
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsPesticide runoff and extreme winter freezing events.
HabitatsGardens, agricultural fields, coastal scrub, and tropical open woodlands.
Life span1–3 months
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyPterophoridae
- GenusSphenarches
- SpeciesSphenarches anisodactylus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Observing: Scan porch lights and lit windows during warm, humid nights.
- Host Plant Checks: Look for tiny caterpillars under geranium leaves and floral buds.
Close Relative (c) ingridaltmann, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Don Loarie / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Fire-flag Plume Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.