Hellinsia balanotes

Hellinsia balanotes, the baccharis borer, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae which is native to Guatemala, northern Mexico, and the United States including Arizona, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Maryland, but has been introduced to Australia for the control of Baccharis halimifolia. The species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1908.

Damage

Damage

Hellinsia balanotes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pterophoridae
Genus:	Hellinsia
Species:	H. balanotes
Binomial name
Hellinsia balanotes (Meyrick, 1908)
Synonyms
Pterophora balanotes Meyrick, 1908 Pterophora aquila Meyrick, 1908 Oidaematophorus balanotes

The wingspan is 31–42 millimetres (1.2–1.7 in).[1] Adults are on wing year round.

The larvae feed on Baccharis (including Baccharis halimifolia, Baccharis salicina, Baccharis neglecta and Baccharis angustifolia)[2] and Pluchea sericea.[3] The feeding results in long narrow galleries in the stem of the host plant.

References

1. "Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
2. Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (January 31, 2009). "Hellinsia balanotes". uts.edu.au. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
3. "Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part II. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden 85 (2011)". Archived from the original on 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2011-12-22.