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Species Uresiphita reversalis - Genista Broom Moth - Hodges#4992

Representative Images

Uresiphita reversalis Uresiphita reversalis moth - Uresiphita reversalis unknown brown moth - Uresiphita reversalis Genista Broom Moth caterpillar - Uresiphita reversalis unknown moth - Uresiphita reversalis Unknown caterpillar - Uresiphita reversalis Uresiphita reversalis? - Uresiphita reversalis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
Subfamily Pyraustinae
Genus Uresiphita
Species reversalis (Genista Broom Moth - Hodges#4992)

Hodges Number

4992

Other Common Names

Sophora Worm

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Uresiphita reversalis (Guenée, 1854)
Mecyna reversalis Guenée, 1854
* phylogenetic sequence #149675

Explanation of Names

"Sophora Worm" is reference to the native host genus: Sophora.
"Genista Broom Moth" is an odd common name for a native North American moth as Genista (common name of "broom") is an Old World genus, family Fabaceae.
Numerous species of broom have been introduced into North America, some of which have become noxious invasives such as common broom (Cytisus scoparius), French broom (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish broom (Spartium junceum).
Sophora - USDA PLANTS Database
Genista - USDA PLANTS Database
Broom - Wikipedia

Numbers

1 sp. north of Mexico (1)

Size

Wingspan 27-34 mm, based on numerous Internet photos

Identification

Adult: forewing light to medium brown with dark scalloped AM and PM lines (sometimes broken or indistinct) and two dark discal spots; hindwing yellow or orange with some brownish-gray shading at apex.
Larva: body brownish-green with raised black dorsolateral spots on each abdominal segment, and white dot at tip of each black spot; sparse long white hairs protrude from dorsolateral spots; head black with white dots.

Range

e US to CA / W. Indies - Map (MPG)

Season

Adults fly year-round in far south.

Food

Larvae feed on Acacia, Baptisia, Genista, Lupinus, Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) and other pea family shrubs. Also reported on Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.).

Life Cycle

Multiple generations per year; usually overwinters as a pupa, and sometimes as an adult.
        1. larvae                 2. larvae                     3. pupa                     4. adult                   5. adult

Print References

Bernays, E. A. & C. B. Montllor 1989. Aposematism of Uresiphita reversalis larvae (Pyralidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 43(4): 261-273.
Boisduval, J. A. & A. Guenée 1854. Botydae. Deltoides et Pyralites. Hist. nat. Ins., Spec. gén. Lépid. 8: 409
Leen, R. 1992. Not so novel interactions of Uresiphita ssp. (Crambidae) and their host plants. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley. 124 pp.
Leen, R. 1995. Biology of Uresiphita reversalis (Guenee) and comparison with U. Polygonalis maorialis (Felder) (Crambidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 49(2): 163-170.

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group - MPG
Sophora Worm - Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
Genista Broom Moth photos - University of California, Irvine

Works Cited

1.Check list of the Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico.
Hodges, et al. (editors). 1983. E. W. Classey, London. 284 pp.
Contributed by Jason D. Roberts on 30 July, 2007 - 2:34pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Robin McLeod, Jeff Hollenbeck, Mike Quinn, Maury Heiman, Aaron Schusteff, marcie oconnor, Randy Hardy, Blocky
Last updated 6 November, 2024 - 3:07am

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