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#1 |
Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA
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I have seen this moth on two separate occasions and both time on milkweed. The first photo I found on the internet, the second I took with my phone. Sorry it's so blurry.
It turns out it is called Atteva punctella - Ailanthus Webworm Moth. It is a native insect whose main larval food plant (Ailanthus altissima) is also known as Tree of Heaven. Hated tree by many!! Species Atteva punctella - Ailanthus Webworm Moth - Hodges#2401 - BugGuide.Net |
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#2 |
WG Contest Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Browns Mills, NJ
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We need to raise a BUNCH of them! They actually eat Ailanthus altissima...WOW, quite pretty and helpful.
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I am a long haired, tree hugging, dirt worshiping environmentalist. |
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#3 |
Great Horned Owl
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northeastern MA
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Interesting that the main larval food of a native is a tree which is not. We aren't burdened by those trees in this area, but I've heard nightmare stories of them.
As to the larval food animal being a native, I guess the dill and fennel being a larval food for the black swallowtail is a similar phenomenon. |
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#4 |
Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA
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Yes, I find it strange as well, Jack! Now that I have some free time, I will research it further to see if there are other plants (native) that it eats as well.
Saw a few more of these colorful moths hanging out on the milkweed yesterday. They must really be attracted to the fruity fragrance!
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"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/ |
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#5 | ||
A Bee's Best Friend
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chicago Illinois USA
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Ailanthus webworm
Quote:
Quote:
Pronunciation: sim-uh-ROO-buh GLAW-kuh ecocrop View crop |
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#6 |
Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA
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Gloria beat me to it! Nice detective work, Watson!
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#7 |
A Bee's Best Friend
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chicago Illinois USA
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Why thank you Holmes.
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Tags |
colorful, helpful, invasive, moth, species |
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