Niphograpta

Niphograpta albiguttalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Niphograpta[1]
Warren, 1892[2]
Species: N. albiguttalis
Binomial name
Niphograpta albiguttalis
(Warren, 1889)[3]
Synonyms
  • Epichronistis albiguttalis Warren, 1889
  • Sameodes albiguttalis

Niphograpta is a genus of moths of the Crambidae family. It contains only one species, the waterhyacinth moth (Niphograpta albiguttalis). It is native to the Amazon basin, but has been introduced in North America (where it is found from Florida, along the gulf coast to Louisiana and Texas), Africa[4] and Australia (where it is found in Queensland and New South Wales)[5] to control the spread of water hyacinth.

Damage

The wingspan is 18–21 millimetres (0.71–0.83 in). The forewings are golden yellow speckled with grey. The hindwings are bright yellow with a prominent black discal spot.

The larvae feed on Eichhornia crassipes. They bore in the stems and leaf buds of their host plant. First instar larvae have a brown body with a dark brown to black head. Later instars are cream coloured with scattered dark brown spots and a dark orange head.

References

  1. ↑ "Natural History Museum Lepidoptera genus database". Nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  2. ↑ "global Pyraloidea database". Globiz.pyraloidea.org. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  3. ↑ "mothphotographersgroup". Mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  4. ↑ "Bug Guide". Bug Guide. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  5. ↑ "Australian Insects". Lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2011-10-18.


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