Species Fulgoraecia exigua - Planthopper Parasite Moth - Hodges#4701

4701

Fulgoraecia exigua (Edwards, 1882)

Monotypic genus (and family) in the U.S. per Hodges et al. (1983) (1)

8-13 mm wingspan per Arnett (1985) (2)

N.J. and Pa. to cen. Fla., west to Mo. and Tex per Covell (1984) (3)

But also AZ and NM per Arnett (1985) (2)

June-Oct. per Covell (1984) (3)

Larva sucks body fluids from various planthoppers. Covell (1984) (3)

Larvae are parasitoids (or parasites?) of Fulgoroid planthoppers. Eggs laid on plants frequented by planthoppers (Homoptera, superfamily Fulgoroidea). First-instar larva attaches itself to the planthopper, on which it becomes an ectoparasite, sucking body fluids from the abdomen beneath the wings. Some life-cycle details are still not known for our single N. American species. Covell (1984) (3)

Life cycle photos:

1.larva 2.larva on plant hopper 3.cocoon 4.freshly eclosed adult 5.adult

Video of pupation

Small bagworm moths such as Cryptothelea gloverii per Covell (1984) (3)

Common, I.F.B. 1990. Moths of Australia. Melbourne University Publishing, Carlton, Victoria. 544 pp. (4)

4701 - Planthopper Parasite Moth - Fulgoraecia exigua - Moth Photographers Group

Fulgoraecia exigua - The Moths of Southeastern Arizona

Fulgoraecia exigua - Georgia Lepidoptera