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Phalaenostola metonalis

species of insect

Specimen drawers, botanical folios and brass scientific instruments under study light
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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionApr 7, 2026
Entity authorityQ7180246 ↗
Source-derived summary

Phalaenostola metonalis, the pale phalaenostola, tufted snout or pale epidelta, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1859. It is found in North America from British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina, west to Missouri.

The wingspan is 20–24 mm. Adults are on wing from June to September.

Larvae feed on dead grass and dead leaves of deciduous trees. Larvae have also been reared on dandelion and lettuce.

References

"930512.00 – 8362 – Phalaenostola metonalis – Pale Phalaenostola Moth – (Walker, 1859)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University.

Editorial summary

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

Editorial reviewA sound reference starting point where classification, measurement and the date of the underlying evidence remain visible. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1859—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Phalaenostola, metonalis 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 “Phalaenostola metonalis”, the useful work is to connect “species of insect” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 7, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q7180246. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1859.

Critical limits

Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. 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 “Phalaenostola metonalis”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Phalaenostola metonalis primary sources, Phalaenostola metonalis archive and Phalaenostola 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 “Phalaenostola metonalis”?
  2. Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
  3. Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from “Phalaenostola metonalis” 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.