Kingdom Animalia Family Gelechiidae Scientific name Symmetrischema tangolias Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Symmetrischema Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
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Similar Symmetrischema, Butterflies and moths, Tecia solanivora, Phthorimaea operculella, Premnotrypes | ||
The South American potato tuber moth, Andean potato tuber moth or tomato stemborer (Symmetrischema tangolias) is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is native to South America, but has become a pest worldwide. Records include North America, Australia and New Zealand.
The wingspan is about 20 mm.
The larvae are a pest on Solanum tuberosum. It attacks the tubers as well as the stems and leaves of the plant. Pupation takes place amongst the debris of the host plant.
References
Symmetrischema tangolias Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA