Kingdom Animalia Order Lepidoptera Genus Hellinsia Higher classification Hellinsia | Phylum Arthropoda Family Pterophoridae Scientific name Oidaematophorus balanotes Rank Species | |
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Similar Hellinsia, Pterophoridae, Hellinsia kellicottii, Butterflies and moths, Megalorhipida leucodactyla | ||
Hellinsia balanotes, the baccharis borer, is a moth of the Pterophoridae family which is native to the United States, Guatemala and northern Mexico, including Arizona, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Maryland, but has been introduced to Australia for the control of Baccharis halimifolia.
The wingspan is 31–42 millimetres (1.2–1.7 in). Adults are on wing year-round.
The larvae feed on Baccharis (including Baccharis halimifolia, Baccharis salicina, Baccharis neglecta and Baccharis angustifolia) and Pluchea sericea. The feeding results in long narrow galleries in the stem of the host plant.
References
Hellinsia balanotes Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA