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Species Keiferia lycopersicella - Tomato pinworm - Hodges#2047

Representative Images

2047 Tomato Pinworm Moth  - Keiferia lycopersicella micro help, please - Keiferia lycopersicella micro id help, please - Keiferia lycopersicella Kieferia lycopersicella on tomato - Keiferia lycopersicella Gnorimoschemini - Keiferia lycopersicella Keiferia lycopersicella Pennsylvania Moth - Keiferia lycopersicella 2047  - Keiferia lycopersicella
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 Gelechioidea (Twirler Moths and kin)
Family Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
Subfamily Gelechiinae
Tribe Gnorimoschemini
Genus Keiferia
Species lycopersicella (Tomato pinworm - Hodges#2047)

Hodges Number

2047

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham, 1897) (1)
Eucatoptus lycopersicella Walsingham, 1897 (2)
Phylogenetic sequence #421349

Explanation of Names

Specific epithet from the host plant genus. Gudmann notes that the larva is a leaf folder of Lycopersicon in St Croix. (2)

Numbers

There are 6 named species of Keiferia in America north of Mexico. (1)

Size

Wingspan 9-12 mm.

Identification

This group is not distinguishable by wing maculation and is best determined by DNA or dissection. (3)
-
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). (4)

Range

Found across the southern United States and in Hawaii.(5)
Has been found in greenhouses used for tomato production in northern areas of eastern North America.
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.

Season

Adults have been found year round.

Food

Larval host is most often tomato, but eggplant and potatoes are also hosts.

Life Cycle

Early instar larvae are leaf miners and then later bore into buds of fruit. (5)

Remarks

Introduced species (1920 or earlier) and considered an economic pest of tomato production.

See Also

Compare to related species on the pinned plates of Moth Photographers Group

Print References

Busck, A. 1939. Restriction of the genus Gelechia (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), with descriptions of new genera. (6)
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, Moths of Western North America, p. 100; pl. 10.18.(5)
Walsingham, T. de Grey. 1897. Revision of the West-Indian Micro-Lepidoptera with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1897: 71. (2)

Works Cited

1.Checklist of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) in America North of Mexico
Lee S., Hodges R.W., Brown R.L. 2009. Zootaxa 2231: 1–39.
2.Revision of the West-Indian micro-lepidoptera, with descriptions of new species.
Lord Walsingham. 1897. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1897: 54-183.
3.A new species of Tildenia [Keiferia] from Illinois (Gelechiidae)
Ronald W, Hodges. 1985. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 39(3): 151-155.
4.BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems
5.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
6.Restriction of the genus Gelechia (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), with descriptions of new genera
August Busck. 1939. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 86(3064): 563-593.