2011-06-26

Apomyelois ceratoniae

Ectomyelois ceratoniae

Locust Bean Moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Tribe:
Genus:
Species: E. ceratoniae
Binomial name
Ectomyelois ceratoniae
(Zeller, 1839)
Synonyms

Numerous, see text

The Locust Bean Moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae), more ambiguously known as "carob moth", is a moth of the Pyralidae family. It has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution.

Adults have forewings with a pale brown pattern, and plain white hindwings. The female moths find suitable fruit or nuts on which to lay their eggs using volatile substances emitted by fungus which is infecting the material.

The larvae are translucent white, with the internal organs visible from the outside. They feed on the seeds and pods of a wide range of plants, including Punica granatum, Citrus fruit, Pistacia vera, Juglans regia, Prunus dulcis, Macadamia integrifolia, Acacia farnesiana, Caesalpinia sappan, Cassia bicapsularis, Ricinus, Erythrina monosperma, Haematoxylum campechianum, Prosopis juliflora, Samanea saman, Phoenix dactylifera and Ceratonia siliqua. It is a considerable agricultural pest.

Synonyms

The species is also known under the following obsolete names:

is a doubtfully distinct taxon; it may be a cryptic species or yet another synonym.

External links






Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectomyelois_ceratoniae