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
