Cataclysta camptozonale
Encyclopedia
The Climbing Maidhair Pyralid Moth (Cataclysta camptozonale) is a moth
of the Crambidae
family. It is native to Australia
, but attempts have been made to introduce it to southern Florida
as a biological control agent for Old World climbing fern.
The wingspan
is about 10 mm.
The larvae feed on Lygodium microphyllum
, Lygodium japonicum
and Lygodium palmatum
.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Crambidae
Crambidae
The Crambidae are the grass moth family of Lepidoptera . They are quite variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae taking up closely folded postures on grass-stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies include brightly coloured and patterned insects which rest in...
family. It is native to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but attempts have been made to introduce it to southern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
as a biological control agent for Old World climbing fern.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is about 10 mm.
The larvae feed on Lygodium microphyllum
Lygodium microphyllum
Lygodium microphyllum is a climbing fern originating in tropical Africa, South East Asia, Melanesia and Australia. It is an invasive weed in the US States of Florida and Alabama where it invades open forest and wetland areas...
, Lygodium japonicum
Lygodium japonicum
Lygodium japonicum is a species of fern that is known by the common name Japanese climbing fern. It is native to eastern Asia, including Japan, Korea, southeastern Asia, and India, and eastern Australia...
and Lygodium palmatum
Lygodium palmatum
Lygodium palmatum is the only species of its genus native to North America. Unlike most species in the genus, this one, called the climbing fern or Hartford fern Lygodium palmatum is the only species of its genus native to North America. Unlike most species in the genus, this one, called the...
.