Phigalia plumogeraria
male
female
The male Phigalia plumogeraria flies in early March, or even February, and I have even seen it in late January, and it gives a welcome relief to the Lepidoptera enthusiast who has been deprived of moths during the winter months. The male has a fine pair of bipectinate antennae. The female, alas, does not fly at all. I have reared the caterpillar on willow. In California it has shown a liking for walnut leaves and has earned itself the name of Walnut Spanworm. Older books refer to this moth as Coniodes plumigeraria.
