Mapsidius charpentierii
Encyclopedia
Mapsidius charpentierii is a moth
of the Scythrididae
family. It is endemic to Oahu
.
It is similar to Mapsidius auspicata
, but is larger and the black marks on the forewings are more distinct and angulated.
The larvae feed on Charpentiera obovata
.
The cocoon is elongate spindle-shaped, densely made of white silk, placed on underside of leaf and beneath a thin lacework of silk which has several large circular meshes. This is similar to the way the cocoon of Mapsidius quadridentata
is constructed, whereas the cocoon of auspicata is broad spindle-shaped beneath a closely woven layer of white silk. The pupa is about 10 mm and dark brown.
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 Scythrididae
Scythrididae
Scythrididae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The family is sometimes included in the Xyloryctidae as a subfamily Scythridinae, but the Xyloryctidae themselves have sometimes been included in the Oecophoridae as subfamily...
family. It is endemic to Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
.
It is similar to Mapsidius auspicata
Mapsidius auspicata
Mapsidius auspicata is a moth of the Scythrididae family. It is endemic to Kauai, Oahu, Lanai and Hawaii.The larvae feed on Charpentiera species. The larva live in a dense white silken tunnel on the leaves of their host.-External links:*...
, but is larger and the black marks on the forewings are more distinct and angulated.
The larvae feed on Charpentiera obovata
Charpentiera obovata
Charpentiera obovata, known as Pāpala, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the pigweed family, Amaranthaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. C. obovata reaches a height of and a trunk...
.
The cocoon is elongate spindle-shaped, densely made of white silk, placed on underside of leaf and beneath a thin lacework of silk which has several large circular meshes. This is similar to the way the cocoon of Mapsidius quadridentata
Mapsidius quadridentata
Mapsidius quadridentata is a moth of the Scythrididae family. It is endemic to Lanai and Maui.The larvae feed on Charpentiera species.-External links:*...
is constructed, whereas the cocoon of auspicata is broad spindle-shaped beneath a closely woven layer of white silk. The pupa is about 10 mm and dark brown.