Laetilia coccidivora
Imago
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Genus: Laetilia
Species:
L. coccidivora
Binomial name
Laetilia coccidivora
(Comstock, 1879)[1]
Synonyms
  • Dakruma coccidivora Comstock, 1879
  • Laetilia cardini Dyar, 1918
  • Atascosa quadricolorella Dyar, 1904

Laetilia coccidivora, the scale-feeding snout moth, is a species of snout moth in the genus Laetilia. It was described by John Henry Comstock in 1879.[2]

It is found in the southern United States, including California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

The wingspan is 10–17 mm.[3]

The larvae are predatory on Coccidae species. They feed on the eggs and young. It uses carminic acid, acquired from its prey, as a defence against its own predators.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Moth Photographers Group at Mississippi State University
  2. ↑ Comstock, J. Henry (October 1879). "On a New Predaceous Lepidopterous Insect". The North American Entomologist. 1 (4): 25–29 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ↑ Butterflies and Moths of North America
  4. ↑ Bug Guide



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.