Species Spoladea recurvalis - Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5170

5170

Hawaiian Beet Webworm

Spinach Moth (in Namibia, Africa)

Spoladea recurvalis (Fabricius) 1794

Orig. Comb: Phalaena recurvalis Fabricius, 1775

Hymenia recurvalis (Fabricius)

* phylogenetic sequence #154600

recurvalis: may refer to the recurved "tooth" at the tip of the white median band on the forewing which resembles an angler's fish-hook

The only species in this genus in North America.

wingspan 19-21 mm

larva to 25 mm

Adult: forewing dark brown or gray with broad white median band beginning at inner margin and terminating in "fish-hook" shape before reaching costa; broad white PM band beginning at costa and terminating part-way across wing, with three white spots beyond it; fringe of both wings with dark and light patches

hindwing dark brown with broad white median band across wing; band is fairly straight with smooth margins outlined in black

Larva: body brownish-green with sparse white hairs; thin black dorsal line, broad dark subdorsal stripes, and paler yellowish sides and bottom

mostly e US to c CA - Map (MPG)

Also occurs in Hawaii, the Neotropics, and Australia, Africa, southeast Asia

gardens, fields, waste places

mostly Aug-Nov, but yr round in FL (BG data)

larvae feed on beets, chard, spinach, and various weeds such as Amaranthus and Chenopodium species

In Europe it is a migratory species. Adults have been observed in England, but not larvae.

Spotted Beet Webworm Moth (Hymenia perspectalis) has thinner and less sharp white bands on forewing, median band lacks fish-hook shape, and hindwing band is toothed and bulges outward in middle.

Fabricius, J. C. 1775: Systema entomologicae, sistens insectorum classes, ordines, genera, species, adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, observationibus. – Kortii, Flensburgi et Lipsiae. 644.

Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. p.179, pl.23.37 (1)

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems

pinned adult image - Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona

live larva image - Alton Sparks, U. of Georgia, insectimages.org

UK Moths

BAMONA