Levuana Moth
Encyclopedia
The Levuana Moth was a species of moth
in the Zygaenidae
family. It is monotypic
within the genus Levuana. Levuana irridescens is known only from Fiji
where it used to be a serious pest of coconut
s from the late 19th century until around 1925 when a classical biological control program permanently reduced high population densities
to almost non-detectable levels. However, this island group is most likely not the home range of this moth and it likely originated in island groups to the west of Fiji.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
in the Zygaenidae
Zygaenidae
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. There are about 1000 species. Various species are commonly known as Burnet or Forester moths, often qualified by the number of spots,...
family. It is monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
within the genus Levuana. Levuana irridescens is known only from Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
where it used to be a serious pest of coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
s from the late 19th century until around 1925 when a classical biological control program permanently reduced high population densities
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
to almost non-detectable levels. However, this island group is most likely not the home range of this moth and it likely originated in island groups to the west of Fiji.
Source
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. Levuana irridescens. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.