Wheeleria spilodactylus

Wheeleria spilodactylus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pterophoridae
Genus: Wheeleria
Species:
W. spilodactylus
Binomial name
Wheeleria spilodactylus
Curtis, 1827
Synonyms
  • Pterophorus spilodactylus
  • Aciptilus confusus

Wheeleria spilodactylus, the horehound plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae, first described by John Curtis in 1827. It is found in South-Western and Central Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and North Africa. It has been introduced to Australia as a biocontrol agent for white horehound (Marrubium vulgare).[1]

Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 6
Depicted in William Buckler The larvæ of the British butterflies and moths 1901 Fig. 7 larva after final moult 7a pupa

The wingspan is 20–25 millimetres (0.79–0.98 in). Adults are on wing from July to September depending on the location.[2]

The difficult to see larvae feed on black horehound (Ballota nigra) and white horehound.

References

  1. ^ "The release and establishment of two biological control agents of horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.) in south-eastern Australia". Weed information. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. ^ Kimber, Ian. "Wheeleria spilodactylus (Curtis, 1827)". UKmoths. Retrieved 2 August 2020.


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