Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Nepticulidae Scientific name Ectoedemia phleophaga | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Ectoedemia Rank Species | |
Similar Alloperla roberti, Acanthametropus pecatonica, Midway noctuid moth, Poko noctuid moth, Ectoedemia | ||
The phleophagan chestnut moth (Ectoedemia phleophaga) was a species of moth in the Nepticulidae family. It was endemic to the United States, where it was known from Virginia.
The wingspan is 9–10 mm. Adults were on wing during September.
The larvae live in the lower layer of the bark of chestnut just above and encroaching upon the cambium. The mine is slender and serpentine, often doubling upon itself and broadening out to twice or more in width in early spring, when the larva reaches maturity. Full-grown larvae leave the bark and fall to the ground where they makes a closely woven, reddish brown cocoon amongst the rubbish, often boring down a few inches in the loose surface soil to find a suitable moist place on the underside of an old leaf or twig. The cocoon is oval and flattened,
It was regarded as an important factor in the spread of chestnut blight.