Wheeleria spilodactylus

Wheeleria spilodactylus (the horehound plume moth) is a moth of the family Pterophoridae, first described by John Curtis in 1827. It is found in South-Western and Central Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and North Africa. It has been introduced to Australia as a biocontrol agent for white horehound (Marrubium vulgare).[1]

Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 6
Depicted in William Buckler The larvæ of the British butterflies and moths 1901 Fig. 7 larva after final moult 7a pupa

Wheeleria spilodactylus
Scientific classification
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W. spilodactylus
Binomial name
Wheeleria spilodactylus
Curtis, 1827
Synonyms
  • Pterophorus spilodactylus
  • Aciptilus confusus

The wingspan is 20–25 millimetres (0.79–0.98 in). Adults are on wing from July to September depending on the location.[2]

The difficult to see larvae feed on black horehound (Ballota nigra) and white horehound.

References


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