Thurberiphaga

Thurberiphaga is a monotypic moth genus of the family Noctuidae erected by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1920. Its only species, Thurberiphaga diffusa, was first described by William Barnes in 1904.

Thurberiphaga
Thurberiphaga diffusa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Subfamily:	Hadeninae
Genus:	Thurberiphaga Dyar, 1920
Species:	T. diffusa
Binomial name
Thurberiphaga diffusa (Barnes, 1904)
Synonyms
Alaria diffusa Barnes, 1904 Thurberiphaga catalina Dyar, [1920]

Distribution

Thurberiphaga diffusa can be found only in southern Arizona in the United States.[1]

Flight

This moth is on wing from July to September.[1]

Life cycle

The caterpillar bores into the stem of the host plant. It is a pinkish color and is covered with rough setae.[1]

Host plants

Its only host plant is wild cotton (Gossypium thurberi).[2]

References

1. Powell, Jerry A. & Opler, Paul A. (2009). Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA. ISBN 978-0-520-25197-7
2. Balaban, John and Jane (March 25, 2013). "Species Thurberiphaga diffusa - Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817". BugGuide. Retrieved June 18, 2019.