Moth Larvae Feeding
on Ragweed
(Ambrosia spp.)




Insect & Family Names
(Scientific & Common)

Spilosoma virginica
(Virginia Tiger Moth)
Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)

Bucculatrix agnella *
(no common name)
Bucculatricidae (Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths)

Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella *
(no common name)
Bucculatricidae (Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths)

Cosmopterix opulenta *
(no common name)
Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)

Chionodes mediofuscella **
(Black-smudged Chionodes)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris juncidella ***
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Dichomeris washingtoniella ***
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Gnorimoschema ambrosiaeella
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Helcystogramma chambersella
(no common name)
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)

Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria §
(Blackberry Looper Moth)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Pleuroprucha insularia §
(Common Tan Wave)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Scopula inductata
(Soft-lined Wave)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Synchlora aerata §
(Wavy-lined Emerald)
Geometridae (Geometer Moths)

Cremastobombycia ambrosiaeella *
(no common name)
Gracillariidae (Leaf-blotch Miner Moths)

Caenurgina erechtea
(Forage Looper Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Hypena scabra
(Green Cloverworm)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Lascoria ambigualis
(Ambiguous Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Ogdoconta cinereola
(Common Pinkband)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Papaipema cataphracta §§
(Burdock Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Papaipema nebris §§
(Stalk Borer Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Peridroma saucia
(Variegated Cutworm)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Plagiomimicus pityochromus
(Black-barred Brown)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Ponometia candefacta §
(Olive-shaded Bird-dropping Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Ponometia erastrioides §
(Small Bird-dropping Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia gracilenta §
(Iva Flower Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia rivulosa §
(Ragweed Flower Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia sexplagiata §
(no common name)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Schinia thoreaui § ¶
(Thoreau's Flower Moth)
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Exaeretia gracilis **
(Ambrosia Seed Moth)
Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)

Ostrinia obumbratalis §§
(Smartweed Borer Moth)
Pyralidae (Snout Moths)

Adaina ambrosiae
(Ragweed Plume Moth)
Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)

Hellinsia inquinatus
(Black-marked Plume Moth)
Pterophoridae (Plume Moth)

Landryia matutella §§§
(no common name)
Scythrididae (Flower Moths)

Astrotischeria ambrosiaeella *
(no common name)
Tischeriidae (Trumpet Leaf-miner Moths)

Astrotischeria heliopsisella *
(no common name)
Tischeriidae (Trumpet Leaf-miner Moths)

Choristoneura rosaceana ***
(Oblique-banded Leafroller Moth)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Epiblema otiosana §§
(Bidens Borer Moth)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Epiblema strenuana §§
(Ragweed Borer Moth)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Paralobesia vernoniana
(Ironweed Tortrix)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)

Sulemia helianthana §
(Sunflower Bud Moth)
Tortricidae (Tortrix Moths)



* larvae are leaf-miners, ** larvae feed on seeds
*** larvae fold leaves, § larvae feed on flowers
§§ larvae bore through stems and/or roots
§§§ larvae form webs on leaf undersides
¶ probably monophagous on Ambrosia trifida


Sources: Covell (1984/2005), Mitchell (1919),
Needham et al. (1928), Loeffler (1994),
Natural History Museum website (2010),
Wagner (2005), Charlet & Gavloski (2011),
Miller (1987)

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