CLOSED: A rare moth from Libya. What is it called?

Libyano Tripoli, Libya Jan 27, 2008

I found this moth during spring. At first I thought it was some sort of a mutant mosquito, but when it flies it looks like a moth. I am 35 and I have never seen this insect before. Does anyone know what it is called?

Post #4460017

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Jan 27, 2008

Libyano, it looks like a Plume Moth, but not sure about the genus, species:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://whatsthatbug.com/images/plume_moth_stewart.jpg&imgrefurl=http://whatsthatbug.com/moths_2.html&h=191&w=216&sz=11&hl=en&start=33&um=1&tbnid=ex64LI5rrLzg5M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplume%2Bmoths%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Post #4460454

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Libyano Tripoli, Libya Jan 28, 2008

This is another angel of the same moth. I think it might indeed be some sort of plume moth but I would love to know if this Libyan Plume Moth has ever been identified before.

Post #4463906

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Jan 28, 2008

I'm not sure how you would find out but you could try calling the Entomology department of a university, maybe they can give you some help.

Post #4466031

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Libyano Tripoli, Libya Jan 31, 2008

I did some research and found that these moths are called Agdistinae which is a sub from the Pterophoridae family. It is a Plume moth. But I am still not sure of the exact genus. It could be an "Agdistis meridionalis" if im not mistaken (http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2438). Tell me what you think?

Some extra resources:

ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/pterophoroidea/pterophoridae/agdistinae/agdistis/index.html#About maps

ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/warp/lepidoptera-5-English-list.html#agdistis

http://jeffhiggott.topcities.com/lepidoptera/systematic_list/Pterophoridae/pterophoridae1.html

http://bugguide.net/node/view/4561

http://www.leps.it/

This message was edited Jan 31, 2008 11:22 AM

Post #4478075

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kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Jan 31, 2008

Libyano,
I agree that your moth is probably Agdistis meridionalis. This site: http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/pterophoroidea/pterophoridae/agdistinae/agdistis/index.html
shows a distribution map, which confirms that it is found in Libya, although so are several other Agdistis species.

I have created an entry for Agdistis meridionalis here in BugFiles: http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/4992/
and would be pleased if you would add your images of the moth to this page,

Kennedy