Amyelois is a monotypicsnout moth genus described by Hans Georg Amsel in 1956. Its single species, Amyelois transitella, the navel orangeworm, described by Francis Walker in 1863, is endemic to the tropical Western Hemisphere, including the southern United States.[2][3] Its abundance in California increased greatly during the first half of the 20th century.[4][5][6]
The wingspan is 9.7 to 10.9 mm. Adults are on wing from the end of March to the end of October in California.
Female A. transitella release very similar sex pheromones to that of female Pyralis farinalis. Both species release the pheromone (Z,Z)-11,13-hexa decadienal which is used to attract males. Male P. farinalis have been observed attempting to mate with female A. transitella, but it does not seem as though these copulations are successful in producing offspring.[8]
References
^"GlobIZ search". Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
^Heinrich, C. 1956. American moths of the subfamily Phycitinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 207: 1-581.
^Simmons, P., and H. D. Nelson. 1975. Insects on Dried Fruits. Agriculture Handbook 464, vol. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.
^Landolt, P. J.; Curtis, C. E. (1982). "Interspecific Sexual Attraction between Pyralis farinalis L. and Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 55 (2): 248–252. JSTOR25084280.