Plume moths are members of the micromoth group and have unusually modified wings. At rest, they look like a capital “T” or like a glider. They resemble a piece of dried grass, which helps them go unnoticed by potential predators. Caterpillars are hairy or bristly, various colors, and feed on plants, with some species rolling leaves to feed inside and others boring into stems. There are over 160 species of plume moths in the US and Canada, primarily found in the west… making identification to exact species very difficult.
Photo by: Glenn Marangelo on 3/5/21 in Missoula, MT