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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

990100n – 19100   Chilecomadia valdiviana Philippi, 1860
             Chilean Carpenter Worm

© Christi Jaeger, MEM
Distribution: Native to Argentina and Chile; not found in North America.
Seasonality
and Size:
Forewing length 28mm in female, and 17mm in the male.
Larva and
Host Plants:
Larvae bore into trunks of living trees, feeding on hardwoods and fruit trees.
Description/
Field Marks:
Forewings grey suffused with white scales, mottled in appearance with black spots. Forewing underside with distinct whitish grey strigulae. Specimens in good condition have pale yellowish green spots in the middle of the wing. The base of the forewing in females is lighter grey than the remaining three quarters of the wing.
The hindwing has a triangular black patch with grey spots between anal veins 1 and 3.
Similar Species:
  • Unlikely to be confused with North American Cossidae, the triangular patch on the hindwing is distinctive.
  • Females may superficially resemble Prionoxystus robinae however the hindwings of both species are distinctive with the latter having a yellow or orange large patch, and Chilecomadia valdiviana having a small triangular black patch with grey spots between anal veins 2 and 3. Males may superficially resemble North American species of Givira however the triangular patch of the hindwing is distinctive and not present in North American species.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
References
  • (1) National Agricultural Pest Information System website
  • (2) Species Page at BOLD Barcoding Project - website.
Chilecomadia valdiviana
LG - – © Christi Jaeger, MEM
Chilecomadia valdiviana
LG - – © Christi Jaeger, MEM

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