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BugGuide submission with photo of genitalia: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2320486.

When I collected this very tiny moth in my backyard, I was able to ID it only as far as the genus Stephensia. There are only two North American species in the genus: S. cunilae and S. major. Seeing either species seemed like an extraordinary find. S. cunilae was last seen by Annette Braun in 1945 in Bartholemew Co., Indiana and S. major has not been seen since the holotype was found in western North Carolina by William Beutenmüller and described by William Kearfott in 1907. Identification to species was complicated by the fact that there are no photos of S. cunilae, only one photo of a pinned specimen of S. major, and one recent, but unidentified Stephensia on BugGuide. And after reading both original descriptions of the silvery markings, I wasn't certain which species it could be. The description of the antennae pattern matched S. cunilae, but I didn't know if that character could differentiate the two species.

My specimen then went to moth expert Jim Vargo, who dissected the genitalia and confirmed it was a male Stephensia. It was difficult to match the genitalia to Annette Braun’s 1948 sketch of the genitalia of S. cunilae or to the photos of the genitalia of S. major, so onward to the next expert the specimen went. Terry Harrison was able to confirm it is Stephensia major. He was also able to match my specimen with specimens recently collected in Iowa by John van der Linden from leaf mines on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). What a joy to know the moth and the host plant!

I often think poorly of my home habitat. My native plantings are dwarfed by the lawns of my subdivision neighbors and the massive nearby warehouses. It feels small and inconsequential. I still can’t believe it’s home to this dazzling little moth that hasn’t been recorded in over 100 years!