Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353
Homadaula anisocentra
This record describes Homadaula anisocentra (species). Recorded family: Galacticidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing shiny dark gray with small black spots; hindwing solid dark gray. Native to Japan and China first found in the U.S. in Washington D.C. in 1943.
Wikipedia reference for Homadaula anisocentra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homadaula_anisocentra.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Galacticoidea
- Family
- Galacticidae
- Genus
- Homadaula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The range must be expanding. Covell lists its range as Maryland to Florida and west to the Great Plains and Texas. Now this species is at least as far north as Massachusetts.
Seasonal Activity
Adults appear in June. 2nd generation adults appear in late July and early August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Mimosa and Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos )
Life History
Egg laying continues throughout the season. First and 2nd instar larvae spin webs around flowers and leaves then live within these. Adjacent surfaces of webbed leaves may be skeletonized, turn brown, and die. Older larvae feed on the tender, terminal leaves. Some of the 2nd generation larvae pupate in the webbing of infested trees; other larvae pupate in the soil or other protected places. Larvae live in communal webs and overwinter in the pupal stage Larva; Larva; adult:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Homadaula anisocentra. 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 Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Marci Hess , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353
What is Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353?
Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353 (Homadaula anisocentra) is a species in the family Galacticidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353?
Wingspan 12-16 mm Larvae reach 10 mm
How do you identify Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353?
Adult: forewing shiny dark gray with small black spots; hindwing solid dark gray.
Where is Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353 found?
Range: The range must be expanding. Covell lists its range as Maryland to Florida and west to the Great Plains and Texas. Now this species is at least as far north as Massachusetts.
What does Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353 eat?
The diet of the Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353 includes Mimosa and Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ).
When is Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353 active?
Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353: seasonal activity - Adults appear in June. 2nd generation adults appear in late July and early August.
What is the life cycle of a Mimosa Webworm Moth - Hodges#2353?
Egg laying continues throughout the season. First and 2nd instar larvae spin webs around flowers and leaves then live within these. Adjacent surfaces of webbed leaves may be skeletonized, turn brown, and die. Older larvae feed on the tender, terminal leaves. Some of the 2nd generation larvae pupate in the webbing of infested trees; other larvae pupate in the soil or other protected places. Larvae live in communal webs and overwinter in the pupal stage Larva; Larva; adult: