Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth
(Photo: Marvin Smith on 11/8/09)
Identification: Brown with two incomplete white stripes on each forewing, and a complete white stripe across each hindwing ... wingspan 19-21 mm (around 3/4")
Range: The common name "Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth" sounds exotic and specialized. In fact, it is neither. In North America S. recurvalis is found from Ontario and New York south to Florida and west to California. Worldwide distribution includes most warmer regions in Australia, Africa and southeast Asia -- and, yes, Hawaii.
Host plants: Larvae feed on beets, chard, spinach and a wide variety of related weeds in genera Chenopodium and Amaranthus. In Africa, Spinach Moth is the common name for this moth.
Hawaiian Beet Webworm Caterpillar
(Photo: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org)
Sources and links:
Spoladea recurvalis on BugGuide
Flora of Zimbabwe
OzAnimals
Chenopodium on Wikipedia
Amaranthus on Wikipedia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
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3 comments:
What a beauty Marvin. Some of these moths are just as pretty as butterflies.
Another excellent photograph, with good information. You truly excel at the close-up photography.
Also thanks for your supportive comments about the elk. Your visits and comments are much appreciated.
Interesting Marvin. Isn't it amazing the variety and mumbers of moths?? So many ways to combine various hues of brown.
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