New Moth Species Found in Florida

Evolutionary biologist Jesse Kremenak and collaborators formally named a new moth species—Cicinnus albarenicolus—unique to the Florida scrub ecosystem. Kremenak began studying the moth over a decade ago, first noticing a unique specimen in the Cornell University Insect Collection. He later confirmed its distinctness with DNA analysis from a Smithsonian sample collected in 1960.

Recent fieldwork revealed contemporary specimens collected in the 2010s and 2020s near Ocala, Florida, and in April 2026, Kremenak observed and collected a female moth and its eggs. This discovery occurred despite the significant degradation of Florida scrub habitat, now reduced to roughly 10% of its original extent.

Researchers believe the moth may serve as an indicator of scrub health, potentially thriving in areas with prescribed burns. However, its full life cycle and ecological role remain unknown, and only 19 specimens were known at the time of the formal description. Conservation efforts will be needed to protect this newly identified, potentially at-risk species.