Erechthias minuscula

Erechthias minuscula, the erechthias clothes moth, is a moth of the family Tineidae. It was first described by Lord Walsingham in 1897. It is widespread and has been recorded from Africa, Sri Lanka, Java, Australia, the Caroline Islands, Fiji, Samoa, the Marquesas, the West Indies, Hawaii and Florida.

Erechthias minuscula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Tineidae
Genus:
Erechthias
Species:
E. minuscula
Binomial name
Erechthias minuscula
(Walsingham, 1897)
Synonyms
  • Ereunetis minuscula Walsingham, 1897
  • Lepidobregma minuscula
  • Decadarchis minuscula

Description

The length of the forewings is 3.5–4 mm.[1] The ground color of the adults is mostly cream or pale straw colored. The forewings, which are strongly upturned at the tips, are variably and extensively marked with pale to dark brown scales.

Pest attack

The larvae are scavengers in dead plant materials and may be found in dead tree trunks, stems, leaves, fruits, and seed pods. Recorded plant material used as food includes Acacia koa, Acacia koaia, banana, Calotropis, Cassia, eggplant, fig, Lantana, palms, Pandanus, papaya, pineapple, Pipturus, Sapindus oahuensis, Sicana odorifera as well as old tamarind pods.

References
  1. Davis, D.R.; Mendel, H. 2013: The genus Erechthias Meyrick of Ascension Island, including discovery of a new brachypterous species (Lepidoptera, Tineidae). ZooKeys, 341: 1-20. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.341.6146
  • Zimmerman, Elwood C. (1978). Insects of Hawaii. 9 Microlepidoptera. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. hdl:10125/7338.
  • "300190.00 – 0304 – Erechthias minuscula – Caribbean Scavenger Moth – (Walsingham, 1897)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  • Hollenbeck, Jeff (December 22, 2015). "Species Erechthias minuscula - Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304". BugGuide. Retrieved July 11, 2018.


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