Neuranethes spodopterodes

Neuranethes spodopterodes is a moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Hadeninae.[1]

Neuranethes spodopterodes
Neuranethes spodopterodes (Hampson, 1908), comb. nov. Female, dorsal aspect
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Subfamily:
Hadeninae
Genus:
Neuranethes
Species:
Neuranethes spodopterodes
Binomial name
Neuranethes spodopterodes
(Hampson, 1908)
Synonyms
  • Sidemia spodopterodes Hampson 1908
Neuranethes spodopterodes lateral aspect
Pupa of Neuranethes spodopterodes
Neuranethes spodopterodes larva in tunnel
Neuranethes spodopterodes wing venation
Adult Neuranethes spodopterodes have vestigial mouthparts

Although it was described at the start of the 20th century, the moth and its habits were little known. It turns out that the adults have vestigial mouthparts and do not feed before they die, but the larvae fed on species of Agapanthus.

However, although the larvae are voracious feeders, the species seems to have done so little harm as to have escaped notice, presumably because of natural control by parasitoids. Early in the 21st century however, it emerged as a serious horticultural pest of popular species of Agapanthus in regions where neither the moth nor the plants occurred spontaneously.

It seems that the moth had been translocated accidentally in horticultural stock and that the natural enemies had not been imported at the same time. Its very voracity combined with its monophagous feeding habits have however suggested that it might prove to be a valuable biological control of invasive Agapanthus in countries such as New Zealand.[2]

References
  1. Hampson, G.F. 1908. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum, Volume 7. Taylor & Francis, London
  2. M.D. Picker and M. Krüger. Spread and Impacts of the Agapanthus Borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes (Hampson, 1908), comb. nov.), a Translocated Native Moth Species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). African Entomology 2013 21 (1), 172-176


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