Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997
Euzophera ostricolorella
This record describes Euzophera ostricolorella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dull purplish-red except dark purplish-gray median area; AM line whitish, gently S-curved; PM line whitish, jagged; no subterminal line; hindwing whitish to pale gray with brown terminal line and white fringe Larva: body dull white; head dark brown with heavily chitinized black areas; spiracles and anal shield smoky brown; pair of jointed legs on each thoracic segment, and fleshy prolegs ending in numerous hooked spines (crochets) on abdominal segments 3 to 6 and 10; consequently, very mobile within and outside gallery [adapted from description at forestpests.org]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Euzophera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
parks and woodlands containing Tuliptree
Geographic Range
eastern United States: Arkansas and Louisiana to northern Florida, north to Michigan and New York (approximately the same distribution as Tuliptree , the larval hostplant)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to June and again from August to October (two broods) in southern states
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae bore into bark and feed on phloem at base of Tuliptree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ) Magnolia reported to be attacked (USDA FS 1985), but this is questionable. (It seems more likely that a related borer in magnolia, E. magnolialis Capps, was mistakenly identified as E. ostricolorella .) [forestpests.org]
Life History
Females oviposit at night in bark crevices of hostplant; larvae tunnel into bark to feed; two generations per year in southern states; one generation in northern states Overwinter in the pupal stage in an tunnel excavated by the larva.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euzophera ostricolorella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Marci Hess , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997
What is Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997?
Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997 (Euzophera ostricolorella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997?
wingspan 30-41 mm larva length to 33 mm
How do you identify Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997?
Adult: forewing dull purplish-red except dark purplish-gray median area; AM line whitish, gently S-curved; PM line whitish, jagged; no subterminal line; hindwing whitish to pale gray with brown terminal line and white fringe Larva: body dull white; head dark brown with heavily chitinized black areas; spiracles and anal shield smoky brown; pair of jointed legs on each thoracic segment, and fleshy prolegs ending in numerous hooked spines (crochets) on abdominal segments 3 to 6 and 10; consequently, very mobile within and outside gallery [adapted from description at forestpests.org]
Where is Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | parks and woodlands containing Tuliptree |
| Range | eastern United States: Arkansas and Louisiana to northern Florida, north to Michigan and New York (approximately the same distribution as Tuliptree , the larval hostplant) |
What does Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997 eat?
The diet of the Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997 includes larvae bore into bark and feed on phloem at base of Tuliptree ( Liriodendron tulipifera ) Magnolia reported to be attacked (USDA FS 1985), but this is questionable. (It seems more likely that a related borer in magnolia, E. magnolialis Capps, was mistakenly identified as E. ostricolorella .) [forestpests.org].
When is Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997 active?
Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to June and again from August to October (two broods) in southern states.
What is the life cycle of a Root Collar Borer - Hodges#5997?
Females oviposit at night in bark crevices of hostplant; larvae tunnel into bark to feed; two generations per year in southern states; one generation in northern states Overwinter in the pupal stage in an tunnel excavated by the larva.