Michaelophorus nubilus

Michaelophorus nubilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pterophoridae
Genus:	Michaelophorus
Species:	M. nubilus
Binomial name
Michaelophorus nubilus (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)
Synonyms
Oxyptilus nubilus Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875 Platyptilia virilis Meyrick, 1916

The cacao plume moth (Michaelophorus nubilus) is a species of moth in the genus Michaelophorus, known from Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Trinidad. Moths of this species take flight in January, February, and July, and have a wingspan of approximately 12–15 millimetres (0.47–0.59 in).^[1]

The larvae feed on the new flush leaves of Theobroma cacao. The larvae move quite rapidly when disturbed and will readily drop off the edge of a leaf on a silk line. Pupae can be found on mature leaves, petioles and small branches, but usually adjacent to new leaves. They are found on both the upper and undersurface of leaves and are anchored to a silk pad. Several pupae may be found on a single leaf.^[2]

References

1. Review of the Neotropical species of the family Pterophoridae, part I: Ochyroticinae, Deuterocopinae, Pterophorinae (Platyptiliini, Exelastini, Oxyptilini) (Lepidoptera)
2. "Notes on the Cacao Plume Moth in Honduras and Description of the Larvae and Pupae (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)" (PDF). Plume Moth. Retrieved 4 October 2010.