Kingdom Animalia Section Cossina Genus Episimus Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | Class Insecta Family Tortricidae Scientific name Episimus utilis Rank Species | |
Similar Pergidae, Lithraea molleoides, Phlaeothripidae, Schinus terebinthifolius, Schinus | ||
Episimus utilis is a moth of the Tortricidae family. It is native to Brazil, but has been introduced to Hawaii in 1954 to aid in the control of Christmas berry or Brazilian peppertree.
The larvae feed in pods of Schinus terebinthifolius. They web together and feed upon the leaves of their host plant. Full-grown larvae are about 15 mm long and pale, sometimes tinged with reddish or bright red.
The pupa is 6.5-7 mm long.
References
Episimus utilis Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA