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Phryganidia californica

species of insect

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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionJul 22, 2026
Entity authorityQ7188161
Source-derived summary

Phryganidia californica, the California oakworm or California oak moth, is a moth of the family Notodontidae and subfamily Dioptinae. The species was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. It is found along the coasts of the US states of California and Oregon, and Washington. The California oak moth is the only member of its subfamily to be found north of Mexico.

The wingspan is about 30 mm (1.2 in). They are tan to gray moths with prominent wing veins. Adults are on wing from March to November. There are two generations per year in northern California. Sometimes there is a third generation in southern California.

The larvae are black with lengthwise yellow stripes.

Editorial summary

The public source identifies “Phryganidia californica” as species of insect. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Phryganidia, californica and species.

Editorial reviewA practical orientation to terminology and classification, particularly when read beside dated observations, specimens or technical literature. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1864—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Phryganidia, californica and species providing the first useful test.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Phryganidia californica”, the useful work is to connect “species of insect” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 22, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q7188161. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1864.

Critical limits

Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
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Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Phryganidia californica”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Phryganidia californica primary sources, Phryganidia californica archive and Phryganidia research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Phryganidia californica”?
  2. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
  3. Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from Phryganidia californica” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.