Udea stellata
Encyclopedia
Udea stellata is a moth
of the Crambidae
family. It is endemic to Kauai
, Oahu
, Molokai
and Hawaii
.
The larvae feed on Neraudia melastomaefolia and Pipturus albidus
. The caterpillars are pale whitish-green. They feed on the underside of the leaves. When small they feed singly, often in a groove or unevenness of the surface or beside a rib or vein and are protected by a web. Older caterpillars are found in folded over leaf margins.
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",...
, Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, Molokai
Molokai
Molokai or Molokai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles in size with a land area of , making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oahu across the 25-mile wide Kaiwi Channel and north of...
and Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
.
The larvae feed on Neraudia melastomaefolia and Pipturus albidus
Pipturus albidus
Pipturus albidus, known as Māmaki in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family, Urticaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of...
. The caterpillars are pale whitish-green. They feed on the underside of the leaves. When small they feed singly, often in a groove or unevenness of the surface or beside a rib or vein and are protected by a web. Older caterpillars are found in folded over leaf margins.