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List of Lepidoptera which feed on Prunus
Encyclopedia
Prunus
species are used as food plants by the caterpillar
s of a number of Lepidoptera
(butterflies and moths). These include:
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
species are used as food plants by the caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s of a number of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
(butterflies and moths). These include:
Monophagous
Species which feed exclusively on Prunus- BucculatricidaeBucculatricidaeBucculatricidae or is a family of moths. This small family has representatives in all parts of the world. Some authors place the group as a subfamily of the family Lyonetiidae....
- Bucculatrix copeuta – only on Pin CherryPin cherryPrunus pensylvanica, also known as bird cherry, fire cherry, pin cherry, and red cherry, is a North American cherry species in the genus Prunus.-Distribution:...
(P. pensylvanica)
- Bucculatrix copeuta – only on Pin Cherry
- ColeophoridaeColeophoridae| name = Case-bearers| image = Coleophoridae-01 .jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult of an unidentified case-bearer species| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta| ordo = Lepidoptera| superfamilia = Gelechioidea...
- Several ColeophoraColeophoraColeophora is a very large genus of moths of the family Coleophoridae. It contains some 1,350 described species. The genus is represented on all continents, but the majority are found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions...
case-bearer species:- C. adjectellaColeophora adjectellaColeophora adjectella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found from Scandinavia to Spain, Sardinia, Sicily and Greece and from Great Britain to Poland and Slovakia.The wingspan is 9-10 mm....
– only on BlackthornBlackthornPrunus spinosa is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America....
(P. spinosa) - C. amygdalinaColeophora amygdalinaColeophora amygdalina is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in Tadjikistan....
- C. demissellaColeophora demissellaColeophora demissella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America, including the eastern United States.The larvae feed on the leaves of Prunus demissa....
– only on Choke Cherry (P. virginiana) - C. lapidicornis
- C. prunifoliaeColeophora prunifoliaeColeophora prunifoliae is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found from Scandinavia to the Pyrenees, Italy and Romania and from Great Britain to southern Russia.The wingspan is 10-12 mm....
– only on Blackthorn (P. spinosa) - C. umbraticaColeophora umbraticaColeophora umbratica is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America, including Ohio.The larvae feed on the leaves of Prunus and Betula species. They create a spatulate leaf case....
- C. adjectella
- Several Coleophora
Polyphagous
Species which feed on Prunus and other plants- ArctiidaeArctiidaeArctiidae is a large and diverse family of moths with around 11,000 species found all over the world, including 6,000 neotropical species. This family includes the groups commonly known as tiger moths , which usually have bright colours, footmen , lichen moths and wasp moths...
- Hypercompe indecisa
- BucculatricidaeBucculatricidaeBucculatricidae or is a family of moths. This small family has representatives in all parts of the world. Some authors place the group as a subfamily of the family Lyonetiidae....
- Bucculatrix pomifoliella
- ColeophoridaeColeophoridae| name = Case-bearers| image = Coleophoridae-01 .jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult of an unidentified case-bearer species| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta| ordo = Lepidoptera| superfamilia = Gelechioidea...
- Several ColeophoraColeophoraColeophora is a very large genus of moths of the family Coleophoridae. It contains some 1,350 described species. The genus is represented on all continents, but the majority are found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions...
case-bearer species:- C. anatipennellaColeophora anatipennellaColeophora anatipennella is a moth of the case-bearer family . It is the type species of its genus and, via that, of its family....
– Leaves – recorded on Wild Cherry (P. avium), BlackthornBlackthornPrunus spinosa is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America....
(P. spinosa), and possibly others - C. atlantica
- C. atromarginataColeophora atromarginataThe American Pistol Casebearer Moth is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America, including Ohio, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Brunswick and Canada....
- C. badiipennellaColeophora badiipennellaColeophora badiipennella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in Europe, from Fennoscandia to the Mediterranean Sea and from Great Britain to southern Russia. It is also known from North America.The wingspan is 9–11 mm...
– recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa) - C. cerasivorella
- C. coracipennellaColeophora coracipennellaColeophora coracipennella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is known from Europe, where it is found from Germany to Sicily and from Great Britain to Romania. It has also been recorded from Estonia and southern Russia....
– recorded on Sour CherrySour CherryPrunus cerasus, or the sour cherry, is a species of Prunus in the subgenus Cerasus , native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the wild cherry Prunus cerasus, or the sour cherry, is a species of Prunus in the subgenus Cerasus (cherries), native to much of Europe and...
(P. cerasus), Bird CherryBird CherryPrunus padus, known as Bird Cherry or Hackberry, is a species of cherry, native to northern Europe and northern Asia. It is a deciduous small tree or large shrub, 8–16 m tall, which grows north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia...
(P. padus), Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and others - C. hemerobiellaColeophora hemerobiellaColeophora hemerobiella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in western Europe, except Ireland and the Iberian Peninsula....
- C. laticornellaColeophora laticornellaThe Pecan Cigar Casebearer is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America.The wingspan is about 25 mm....
– recorded on Wild Plum (P. americana) - C. lineapulvellaColeophora lineapulvellaColeophora lineapulvella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America, including Oklahoma, Ohio and Kentucky.The larvae feed on the seeds of Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus retroflexus and possibly Prunus and Persica species. They create a trivalved, tubular silken case....
- C. malivorella
- C. nigricella
- C. paripennellaColeophora paripennellaColeophora paripennella is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in most of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula and Balkan Peninsula.The wingspan is 10-13 mm. Adults are metallic bronze with white-tipped dark antennae...
- C. pruniellaColeophora pruniellaThe Cherry Casebearer Moth is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America, including New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Ontario and British Columbia.The wingspan is about 11 mm....
- C. sacramentaColeophora sacramentaColeophora sacramenta is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in North America, including California.The larvae feed on the leaves of Malus, Prunus , Populus, Tilia and Chaenomeles species. They create a pistol-shaped case....
- C. spinellaColeophora spinellaThe Apple-and-Plum Casebearer is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is found in Europe, the Near East and North America.The wingspan is 10–12 mm...
(Apple-and-Plum Case-bearer) – recorded on Sour Cherry (P. cerasus) and Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
- C. anatipennella
- Several Coleophora
- Geometridae
- Agriopis marginaria (Dotted Border)
- Campaea margaritata (Light Emerald)
- Chloroclysta truncata (Common Marbled Carpet) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
- Chloroclystis rectangulata (Green Pug) – recorded on cherryCherryThe cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
flowers - Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn)
- Crocallis elinguaria (Scalloped Oak) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
- Ectropis crepuscularia (The Engrailed)
- Epirrita autumnata (Autumnal Moth)
- Epirrita christyi (Pale November Moth)
- Epirrita dilutata (November Moth)
- Erannis defoliaria (Mottled Umber)
- Eupithecia exiguata (Mottled Pug)
- Hemithea aestivaria (Common Emerald)
- Lomographa bimaculataLomographa bimaculataThe White-pinion Spotted is a geometer moth species . It belongs to the large geometer moth subfamily Ennominae, and therein to the tribe Baptini. It is – under its junior synonym – the type species of its genus Lomographa...
(White-pinion Spotted) – Leaves – recorded on Wild Cherry (P. avium), Blackthorn (P. spinosa), and possibly others - Odontopera bidentata (Scalloped Hazel) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
- Operophtera brumata (Winter Moth)
- Opisthograptis luteolata (Brimstone Moth)
- Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty) – Leaves – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and possibly others
- Selenia tetralunaria (Purple Thorn)
- LasiocampidaeLasiocampidaeThe Lasiocampidae family of moths are also known as eggars, snout moths or lappet moths. There are over 2000 species worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied....
- Malacosoma americanum (Eastern Tent Caterpillar) – recorded on Black Cherry (P. serotina) and others
- LymantriidaeLymantriidaeLymantriidae is a family of moths. Many of its component species are referred to as "Tussock moths" of one sort or another. The caterpillar, or larval, stage of these species often has a distinctive appearance of alternating bristles and haired projections...
- Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Brown-tail)
- Euproctis similis (Yellow-tail) – recorded on cherries
- NoctuidaeNoctuidaeThe Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
- Agrochola circellaris (The Brick) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
- Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)
- Acronicta tridens (Dark Dagger)
- Amphipyra tragopoginis (Mouse Moth)
- Cosmia trapezina (The Dun-bar)
- Eupsilia transversa (The Satellite)
- Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
- Naenia typica (The Gothic)
- Noctua comes (Lesser Yellow Underwing) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
- Noctua janthina (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
- Orthosia cerasi (Common Quaker)
- Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
- Phlogophora meticulosa (Angle Shades)
- Xestia triangulum (Double Square-spot) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
- NolidaeNolidaeNolidae is a family of moths with about 1,400 described species worldwide. They are mostly small with dull colouration, the main distinguishing feature being tufts of raised scales on the forewings...
- Nola cucullatella (Short-cloaked Moth)
- NotodontidaeNotodontidaeNotodontidae is a family of moths with approximately 3,500 known species. Moths of this family are found in all parts of the world, but they are most concentrated in tropical areas, especially in the New World...
- Nadata gibbosa (Rough Prominent)
- Phalera bucephala (Buff-tip)
- Ptilodon capucina (Coxcomb Prominent) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
- NymphalidaeNymphalidaeThe Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
- Limenitis arthemis (American White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple) – prefers Choke Cherry (P. virginiana) over Pin CherryPin cherryPrunus pensylvanica, also known as bird cherry, fire cherry, pin cherry, and red cherry, is a North American cherry species in the genus Prunus.-Distribution:...
(P. pennsylvanica) and Black Cherry (P. serotina)
- Limenitis arthemis (American White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple) – prefers Choke Cherry (P. virginiana) over Pin Cherry
- OecophoridaeOecophoridaeOecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this....
- Esperia oliviella – recorded in dead twigs of Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
- Papilionidae
- Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail) – recorded on cherries
- SaturniidaeSaturniidaeThe Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, are among the largest and most spectacular of the moths. They form a family of Lepidoptera, with an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 described species worldwide...
- Automeris ioAutomeris ioThe Io Moth is a very colorful North American moth in the Saturniidae family. It ranges from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick in Canada, and in the US it is found from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New...
(Io Moth) – recorded on Pin Cherry (P. pensylvanica) - Pavonia pavonia (Emperor Moth)
- Automeris io
- SphingidaeSphingidaeSphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
- Ceratomia amyntorCeratomia amyntorThe Elm sphinx, , sometimes called the Four-horned Sphinx, is a North American species of moth in the Sphingidae family. It has a wingspan of 3¼ - 4½ inches...
(Elm Sphinx) – recorded on cherries - Mimas tiliae (Lime Hawk-moth)
- Smerinthus jamaicensisSmerinthus jamaicensisThe Twin-spotted Sphinx is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is widely distributed across North America and is found everywhere except in the southern half of western California...
(Twin-spotted Sphinx) – recorded on PeachPeachThe peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
(P. persica), plumPlumA plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
s and others
- Ceratomia amyntor
- TortricidaeTortricidaeTortricidae is a family of moths, commonly known as tortrix moths, in the order Lepidoptera. Tortricidae is a large family with over 9,400 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea. Many of these are economically important pests. Olethreutidae is a junior synonym...
- Enarmonia formosanaEnarmonia formosanaThe Cherrybark Tortrix or Cherry-bark Moth is a small but colorful moth species of the family Tortricidae. It is native to all of northern and western Europe, ranging south to the Maghreb. North of the Alps its range extends eastwards to Siberia and Kazakhstan...
(Cherrybark Tortrix) – recorded on bark of cherries - Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth)
- Enarmonia formosana
- Yponomeutidae
- Scythropia crataegellaScythropia crataegellaThe Hawthorn Moth is a species of ermine moth from western Eurasia. It is usually placed in a small subfamily Scythropiinae, which is sometimes included in the Yponomeutinae....
(Hawthorn Moth) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and others
- Scythropia crataegella