List of Lepidoptera that feed on Prunus facts for kids

Have you ever wondered what caterpillars eat? Many different kinds of caterpillars, which are the young forms of Lepidoptera (that's the fancy name for butterflies and moths), love to munch on plants from the Prunus family. This plant family includes many popular trees and shrubs like cherry trees, plum trees, and peach trees.

Some caterpillars are very picky eaters and will only eat Prunus plants. Others are less fussy and enjoy Prunus plants along with many other types of plants. This article lists some of the fascinating butterflies and moths whose caterpillars use Prunus plants as their main food source.

Picky Eaters: Moths and Butterflies That Only Eat Prunus

These are the caterpillars that are super choosy! They only eat plants from the Prunus family. If they don't find a Prunus plant, they won't eat anything else.

Tiny Moths: Bucculatricidae Family

• Bucculatricidae
  • Bucculatrix copeuta: This tiny moth's caterpillars are only found eating the leaves of the pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica).

Case-Bearers: Coleophoridae Family

• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora species, often called case-bearers because their caterpillars live inside a protective case they build:
    • C. adjectella: These caterpillars only feed on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
    • C. amygdalina
    • C. demissella: You'll only find these caterpillars on choke cherry (Prunus virginiana).
    • C. lapidicornis
    • C. prunifoliae: Another species that prefers only blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
    • C. umbratica

Loopers and Inchworms: Geometridae Family

• Geometridae (often called loopers or inchworms because of how their caterpillars move)
  • Rheumaptera prunivorata

Variety Eaters: Moths and Butterflies That Eat Prunus and More

These caterpillars are not as picky! While they enjoy Prunus plants, they also eat leaves from many other types of plants. This makes them more adaptable.

Tiger Moths: Arctiidae Family

• Arctiidae
  • Hypercompe indecisa

Tiny Moths: Bucculatricidae Family

• Bucculatricidae
  • Bucculatrix pomifoliella

Case-Bearers: Coleophoridae Family

• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. anatipennella: Its caterpillars eat the leaves of wild cherry (Prunus avium) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), plus other plants.
    • C. atlantica
    • C. atromarginata
    • C. badiipennella: Found on blackthorn (P. spinosa).
    • C. cerasivorella
    • C. coracipennella: Eats sour cherry (Prunus cerasus), bird cherry (Prunus padus), blackthorn (P. spinosa), and more.
    • C. hemerobiella
    • C. laticornella: Recorded on wild plum (Prunus americana).
    • C. lineapulvella
    • C. malivorella
    • C. nigricella
    • C. paripennella
    • C. pruniella
    • C. sacramenta
    • C. spinella (apple-and-plum case-bearer): Eats sour cherry (P. cerasus) and blackthorn (P. spinosa).

Loopers and Inchworms: Geometridae Family

• Geometridae
  • Agriopis marginaria (dotted border)
  • Campaea margaritata (light emerald)
  • Chloroclysta truncata (common marbled carpet): Eats bird cherry (P. padus).
  • Chloroclystis rectangulata (green pug): Its caterpillars eat cherry flowers.
  • Colotois pennaria (feathered thorn)
  • Crocallis elinguaria (scalloped oak): Eats bird cherry (P. padus).
  • Ectropis crepuscularia (engrailed)
  • Epirrita autumnata (autumnal moth)
  • Epirrita christyi (pale November moth)
  • Epirrita dilutata (November moth)
  • Erannis defoliaria (mottled umber)
  • Eupithecia exiguata (mottled pug)
  • Hemithea aestivaria (common emerald)
  • Lomographa bimaculata (white-pinion spotted): Its caterpillars eat leaves from wild cherry (P. avium) and blackthorn (P. spinosa), plus other plants.
  • Odontopera bidentata (scalloped hazel): Eats bird cherry (P. padus).
  • Operophtera brumata (winter moth)
  • Opisthograptis luteolata (brimstone moth)
  • Peribatodes rhomboidaria (willow beauty): Its caterpillars eat leaves from blackthorn (P. spinosa) and other plants.
  • Selenia tetralunaria (purple thorn)

Tent Caterpillars: Lasiocampidae Family

• Lasiocampidae
  • Malacosoma americanum (eastern tent caterpillar): Eats black cherry (Prunus serotina) and other plants.

Tussock Moths: Lymantriidae Family

• Lymantriidae
  • Euproctis chrysorrhoea (brown-tail)
  • Euproctis similis (yellow-tail): Eats cherries.

Owlet Moths: Noctuidae Family

• Noctuidae
  • Agrochola circellaris (brick): Eats bird cherry (P. padus).
  • Acronicta psi (grey dagger)
  • Acronicta tridens (dark dagger)
  • Amphipyra tragopoginis (mouse moth)
  • Cosmia trapezina (dun-bar)
  • Eupsilia transversa (satellite)
  • Melanchra persicariae (dot moth): Eats bird cherry (P. padus).
  • Naenia typica (gothic)
  • Noctua comes (lesser yellow underwing): Eats blackthorn (P. spinosa).
  • Noctua janthina (lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing): Eats blackthorn (P. spinosa).
  • Orthosia cerasi (common Quaker)
  • Orthosia gothica (Hebrew character)
  • Phlogophora meticulosa (angle shades)
  • Xestia triangulum (double square-spot): Eats blackthorn (P. spinosa).

Nolidae Family

• Nolidae
  • Nola cucullatella (short-cloaked moth)

Prominent Moths: Notodontidae Family

• Notodontidae
  • Nadata gibbosa (rough prominent)
  • Phalera bucephala (buff-tip)
  • Ptilodon capucina (coxcomb prominent): Eats bird cherry (P. padus).

Brush-Footed Butterflies: Nymphalidae Family

• Nymphalidae
  • Limenitis arthemis (American white admiral/red-spotted purple): This butterfly's caterpillars prefer choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) over pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) and black cherry (P. serotina).

Concealer Moths: Oecophoridae Family

• Oecophoridae
  • Esperia oliviella: Found in dead twigs of blackthorn (P. spinosa).

Swallowtail Butterflies: Papilionidae Family

• Papilionidae
  • Papilio glaucus (eastern tiger swallowtail): Eats cherries.
  • Papilio multicaudata (two-tailed swallowtail): Eats choke cherries.

Giant Silkmoths: Saturniidae Family

• Saturniidae
  • Automeris io (Io moth): Eats pin cherry (P. pensylvanica).
  • Callosamia promethea (promethea silkmoth)
  • Hyalophora cecropia (cecropia moth)
  • Pavonia pavonia (emperor moth)

Sphinx Moths: Sphingidae Family

• Sphingidae
  • Ceratomia amyntor (elm sphinx): Eats cherries.
  • Mimas tiliae (lime hawk-moth)
  • Smerinthus jamaicensis (twin-spotted sphinx): Eats peach (P. persica) and plums.

Leaf-Roller Moths: Tortricidae Family

• Tortricidae
  • Enarmonia formosana (cherrybark tortrix): Eats the bark of cherries.
  • Epiphyas postvittana (light brown apple moth)

Ermine Moths: Yponomeutidae Family

• Yponomeutidae
  • Scythropia crataegella (hawthorn moth): Eats blackthorn (P. spinosa) and other plants.