Host Plant and Non-plant Specialists -- Acorns to Hemlocks


The main reason the lepidoptera, and most particularly the moths, have become so numerous and diverse as species, is that they have found so many ways for their larvae to exploit the world of plants and to divide that world into specialized uses of plant parts. Some moth specialize in munching foliage from without and within (leafminers). Others live mainly as borers within the stems or stalks of low-growing plants or in the trunks of trees. Still others exploit root systems, fruits, buds, cones, seeds and other plant parts. A much smaller group of moths make their livings in other ways, developing through the use of lichens, fungi, beehives, animal fur and even the stored products of man.

In my yard and garden I can discover at least one species of moth that utilizes almost every plant that I can identify including my lawn grasses and weeds, every ornamental shrub, perennial and annual flowering plant and vine, and vegetable raised for our own consumption. There have also been a few species that are occasionally found in our kitchen and pantry and in the produce brought home from the supermarket. All in all it is really no surprise to have so far found more than 700 species of adult moths in my yard. Many of them are shown in the listing that follows below.
 

Acorns
Ailanthus
Apple
Apple
Valentina glandulella
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Atteva punctella
© Richard Leung - VA
 
Cydia pomonella
© Nolie Schneider - ON
 
Sphinx gordius
© John Himmelman - CT
 
Azalea
Basswood
Beeswax
Beet
Caloptilia azaleella
© Richard Leung - VA
 
Olethreutes tiliana
© Janice Stiefel - WI
 
Gelleria mellonella
© Anthony W. Thomas - NB
 
Hymenia perspectalis
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Birch
Birch
Blackberry
Bougainvillea
Eriocrania semipurpella
© Anthony W. Thomas - NB
 
Acronicta betulae
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Chlorchlamys chloroleucaria
© Alan Chin-Lee - FL
 
Asciodes gordialis
© Machele White - FL
 
Boxwood
Bunchberry
Burdock
Cabbage
Galasa nigrinodis
© Machele White - FL
 
Olethreutes connectus
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Papaipema cataphracta
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Evergestis pallidata
© Nolie Schneider - ON
 
Catalpa
Celery
Chickweed
Chinquapin
Ceratomia catalpae
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Udea rubigalis
© John Davis - WA
 
Haematopis grataria
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Dyseriocrania griseocapitella
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Citrus
Clothing
Clover
Clover
Gonodonta nutrix
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Tinea pallescentella
© Ben Smart - UK
 
Plathypena scabra
© Matthew Roth - PA
 
Hypsopygia costalis
© Anthony W. Thomas - NB
 
Columbine
Corn
Corn
Cotton
Papaipema leucostigma
© Dave Beadle - ON
 
Ostrinia nubilialis
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Helicoverpa zea
© Lynette Schimming - NC
 
Crocidosema plebejana
© Machele White - FL
 
Currant
Dead Wood
Dogwood
Douglas Fir
Synanthedon tipuliformis
© Shane Farrell - UK
 
Scolecocampa liburna
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Euthyatira pudens
© Bob Duncan - NY
 
Orgyia pseudotsugata
© John Davis - WA
 
Eggplant
Elder
Elm
Euonymus - Spindle
Lineodes integra
© Charles Lewallen - OK
 
Achatodes zeae
© Forest Barnas - MN
 
Ceratomia amyntor
© Patrick Coin - NC
 
Yponomeuta cagnagella
© Carroll Rudy - WI
 
Evergreens
Fern
Fig
Filbert
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Callopistria mollissima
© John Himmelman - CT
 
Xanthopastis timais
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Cydia latiferreana
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Finned-willow
Fireweed
Fringe-tree
Fungus
Notodonta scitipennis
© Cindy Mead - MI
 
Mompha conturbatella
© Ben Smart - UK
 
Adita chionanthi
© Nolie Schneider - ON
 
Metalectra quadrisignata
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Gaillardia
Goldenrod
Goosefoot
Gorse
Schinia masoni
© Charles Lewallen - OK
 
Schinia nundina
© Tom Murray - MA
 
Chrysoesthia drurella
© Nigel Whinney - UK
 
Agonopterix nervosa
© John Davis - WA
 
Grape
Grasses
Grasses
Hemlock
Desmia funeralis
© Machele White - FL
 
Acrolophus plumifrontella
© Robert Patterson - MD
 
Rivula propinqualis
© Bev Wigney - ON
 
Nepytia phantasmaria
© John Davis - WA
 






MothTalk/MothTalk016.htm -- 01/15/2007