Common fruit-piercing moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common fruit-piercing moth |
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The common fruit-piercing moth, also known as Eudocima phalonia, is a type of moth that belongs to the family Erebidae. This moth was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1763. You can find it in many tropical areas, especially in Asia, Africa, and Australia. It has also been introduced to places like Hawaii, New Zealand, and the Society Islands. This moth is a major pest because it damages many kinds of fruit around the world.
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What Does the Common Fruit-Piercing Moth Look Like?
Male Moths
Male common fruit-piercing moths have a wingspan of about 80 to 94 millimeters. Their head and body are reddish-brown, sometimes with a purplish color. Their belly is orange. The front wings are reddish-brown, often with a green tint and tiny dark spots. The back wings are orange with a large black mark and a black band along the edge.
Female Moths
Female moths are a bit larger, with a wingspan of about 90 to 110 millimeters. Their front wings are usually darker and have more patterns than the males. They often have a small white triangle mark on their wings.
Larvae (Caterpillars)
The larvae, or caterpillars, of this moth are purplish-brown. They have red legs and bright red spots on their sides. Some parts of their body have irregular white markings. They also have black spots with yellow rings and white centers, which look like eyes.
How They Damage Fruit
Adult moths are considered a farm pest. They use their strong, sharp mouthpart, called a proboscis, to poke holes in fruits. Then, they suck out the juice. This damages the fruit, making sap leak out and causing it to become soft. Sometimes, the damaged fruits fall off the plant too early. Farmers try to control these moths using different methods, like special baits or natural enemies that attack their eggs or larvae.
Where Do Common Fruit-Piercing Moths Live and What Do They Eat?
The caterpillars of the common fruit-piercing moth mainly eat vines from a plant family called Menispermaceae. However, they have also learned to eat other plants, including different types of Erythrina trees. Some of the plants they are known to feed on include Erythrina crista-galli, Erythrina fusca, and Erythrina variegata. They also eat plants like Carronia multisepala and Stephania japonica.
When the adult moths attack fruits, you might see sap oozing out. The inside of the fruit can also be damaged from the moth sucking the juice. The damaged parts of the fruit often become spongy and have many small wounds.
Gallery
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Male
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Female
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Female, dorsal view
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Female, ventral view
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Male, dorsal view
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Male, ventral view
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Larva
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Pupa
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Male, Goa
