Plume Moth Wings

Common Plume, Emmelina monodactyla.  Hayes, 4 September 2012.

Plume moths, belonging to the family Pterophidae, look very odd when they rest.  They roll their wings up into a tube and adopt this T-shaped posture.  I have posted a few different species of these in the past, which you will find if you search for "Plume."

This is the one most people see.  It's easily disturbed in daytime and its distinctive shape makes it a little bit easier to see than some small moths; in fact it's also bigger than most small moths!

I have seen it called a T-moth, for the obvious reason.  That seems a much more natural name than "plume" moth, but sometimes, when they land, they do not roll up their forewings, and then you can see something quite different.

Common Plume, Emmelina monodactyla.  Hayes, 9 September 2012.

Here is the same species near my garden light trap one night, and now you can see the array of fine hairs that make the wings look quite feathery.