Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths (Pyraloidea) » Crambid Snout Moths (Crambidae) » Pyraustinae » Uresiphita » Genista Broom Moth - Hodges#4992 (Uresiphita reversalis)

Species Uresiphita reversalis - Genista Broom Moth - Hodges#4992

Classification · Hodges Number · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Uresiphita reversalis Moth 71 - Uresiphita reversalis Unidentified larvae - Uresiphita reversalis Caterpillar, I think a moth. - Uresiphita reversalis Uresiphita reversalis? - Uresiphita reversalis moth - Uresiphita reversalis Caterpillar - 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

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact