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Plume moth - Lantanophaga pusillidactyla
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Lantanophaga pusillidactyla - I think this is the same species?
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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PLUME MOTH FACTS |
Identification
Lantanophaga pusillidactylais is a grey and brown plume moth, with a darker saddle shaped mark on the abdomen. It feeds on introduced Lantana, but has limited impact on the control of lantana, although it damages flower heads resulting in fewer seeds being produced.
Size
wingspan 12mm
Food
Feeds on Lantana camara and on Lantana montevidensis.
Breeding
Adults lay eggs in Lantana flower heads. The larvae feed inside flowers or tunnel around the base of the flower. They feed for 7–10 days and pupate in the flower clusters.
Range
L. pusillidactyla is found naturally throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, and was probably first introduced into Australia accidentally on imported lantana plants. In Australia is found from far north Queensland to Sydney.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Lepidoptera | | Family: | Pterophoridae | | Genus: | Lantanophaga | | Species: | pusillidactyla | | Common Name: | Plume Moth |
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