Orthomecyna mesochasma
Encyclopedia
Orthomecyna mesochasma is a moth
of the Crambidae
family. It is endemic to Kauai
.
Larvae have been found among the roots of sugarcane. The caterpillars are whitish. It is the only record of the discovery of a larva in the Orthomecyna
genus. It is thought the caterpillars are subterranean in habit or bore in the basal parts of grass plants and are thus hard to find.
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...
of the Crambidae
Crambidae
The Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera . They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in...
family. It is endemic to Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
.
Larvae have been found among the roots of sugarcane. The caterpillars are whitish. It is the only record of the discovery of a larva in the Orthomecyna
Orthomecyna
Orthomecyna is a genus of moths of the Crambidae family. All species are endemic to Hawaii.-Species:*Orthomecyna albicaudata Butler, 1883*Orthomecyna alloptila Meyrick, 1899*Orthomecyna amphilyca Meyrick, 1899...
genus. It is thought the caterpillars are subterranean in habit or bore in the basal parts of grass plants and are thus hard to find.