Leucinodes cordalis

Leucinodes cordalis, the poroporo fruit borer or eggfruit caterpillar, is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is found in New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia (Sulawesi).[2] In Australia, it has been reported from Norfolk Island, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. The species was first described by Henry Doubleday in 1843.

Dorsal view
Ventral view

Leucinodes cordalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Genus:
Leucinodes[1]
Species:
L. cordalis
Binomial name
Leucinodes cordalis
(Doubleday, 1843)
Synonyms
  • Margaritia cordalis Doubleday, 1843
  • Sceliodes cordalis
  • Daraba extensalis Walker, 1866
  • Eretria obsistalis Snellen, 1880
  • Sceliodes mucidalis Guenée, 1854

The length of the forewings is 13.5–15 mm. The forewings are off white with brown tips, as well as a pattern of pale brown blotches.[3] There are two generations per year in New Zealand. In Australia, there may be more generations.

The larvae feed on Solanum melongena, Solanum muricatum, Solanum aviculare, Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum esuriale, Solanum americanum, Solanum tuberosum, Capsicum annuum, Datura wrightii and Datura stramonium. They bore into the fruit of their host plant and feed on the flesh and seeds.[4] The larvae are bright pink and reach a length of about 20 mm.

References
  1. Nuss, M.; et al. (2003–2012). "GlobIZ search". Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  2. Mally, Richard; Korycinska, Anastasia; Agassiz, David J. L.; Hall, Jayne; Hodgetts, Jennifer; Nuss, Matthias (2015). "Discovery of an unknown diversity of Leucinodes species damaging Solanaceae fruits in sub-Saharan Africa and moving in trade (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea)". ZooKeys. 472: 117–162. doi:10.3897/zookeys.472.8781. PMC 4304033. PMID 25632252.
  3. Herbison-Evans, Don & Crossley, Stella (2 February 2013). "Sceliodes cordalis (Doubleday, 1843) Eggfruit Caterpillar". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. Microlepidoptera on Solanaceae


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