- Hellinsia paleaceus
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Hellinsia paleaceus Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pterophoridae Genus: Hellinsia Species: H. paleaceus Binomial name Hellinsia paleaceus
(Zeller, 1873)[1]Synonyms - Leioptilus paleaceus Zeller, 1873
- Oidaematophorus paleaceus
- Leioptilus sericidactylus Murtfeldt, 1880
Hellinsia paleaceus is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is found in North America, including Florida, Mississippi[2] Maryland, Montana[3], Texas, California, Nebraska, New Mexico and south-eastern Canada.
The wingspan is 19-26 mm. Adults have been recorded from March to September.[4]
The larvae feed on Vernonia gigantea, Vernonia missurica and Vernonia noveboracensis.[5] They feed on the young foliage of their host plant. Young larvae are dingy white, with a tinge of green. Later instars become pale glaucous, often varying, especially in the late fall brood, to dull salmon. Pupation takes place in a pupa with quite variable colour and markings. In the spring brood, it is commonly dull green, with indistinct yellow lateral stripes. In the fall brood, the dorsum is pale yellow or flesh color, with two fine indistinct mediodorsal lines of lilac color. The pupa is quite active and irritable, striking about in all directions when meddled with.
References
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