Adaina ambrosiae explained

Adaina ambrosiae (ambrosia plume moth or ragweed plume moth) is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in North America from California east to Florida and north to Ontario.[1] It is also known from Bermuda, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The wingspan is 13mm17mm.[2] Adults are on wing nearly year-round in the southern part of their range.

The larvae feed on Ambrosia artemissiifolia, Ambrosia acanthicarpa, Ambrosia chamissonis, Ambrosia confertiflora, Ambrosia dumosa, Ambrosia eriocentra, Ambrosia cumanensis, Pluchea rosea, Melanthera nivea, Helianthus annuus, Helianthus tuberosa, Xanthium strumarium and Cynara scolymus.[3]

Etymology

The specific name refers to one of the host plants, Ambrosia.

Notes and References

  1. http://bugguide.net/node/view/166244 Bug Guide
  2. Web site: Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part II. Zool. Med. Leiden 85 (2011) . 2011-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016113144/http://www.zoologischemededelingen.nl/cgi/t/text/get-pdf?c=zoomed%3Bidno%3D8503a01 . 2013-10-16 . dead .
  3. http://www.plumemoth.com/Florida%20Pterophoridae.pdf Annotated Checklist of the Pterophoridae (Lepidoptera) of Florida