List of Lepidoptera that feed on pear trees facts for kids

Pears (which are trees from the Pyrus family) are a tasty meal for many different kinds of caterpillars. These caterpillars are the young forms of Lepidoptera, which is the scientific name for butterflies and moths. When these caterpillars eat pear leaves, they grow bigger and eventually turn into adult butterflies or moths.

Moths and Butterflies That Love Pear Trees

Many types of moths and butterflies lay their eggs on pear trees. When the eggs hatch, the tiny caterpillars start munching on the leaves, flowers, or even the fruit. This helps them grow and get ready for their next stage of life.

Tiny Tunnels: Leaf-Mining Moths

Some caterpillars are called "leaf-miners" because they live and eat inside the leaves of the pear tree. They create little tunnels or "mines" as they munch on the soft parts of the leaf.

• A group of moths called Bucculatricidae includes several species that are leaf-miners on pear trees. Some examples are B. bechsteinella and B. pyrivorella.

Portable Homes: Case-Bearing Moths

Other caterpillars are known as "case-bearers." These clever insects build a small, protective case around themselves using silk and bits of plant material. They carry this case with them wherever they go, like a tiny portable home!

• The Coleophoridae family has many case-bearer species that enjoy pear trees. For example, C. anatipennella and C. spinella (also known as the apple-and-plum case-bearer) have been found on the European pear.

Inchworms and Other Moths

Many other types of moths also use pear trees as a food source.

• Geometer moths (family Geometridae) are often called "inchworms" because of the way their caterpillars move. Some geometer moths that eat pear leaves include the Chloroclystis rectangulata (green pug) and the Operophtera brumata (winter moth).
• The Lymantriidae family includes the Euproctis chrysorrhoea (brown-tail moth), whose caterpillars can also be found on pear trees.
• A very large family of moths called Noctuidae has many species that feed on pear trees. These include the Acronicta psi (grey dagger) and the Phlogophora meticulosa (angle shades).
• Small moths from the Nolidae family, like Nola cucullatella (short-cloaked moth), also visit pear trees.
• Large, beautiful moths from the Saturniidae family, such as the Pavonia pavonia (emperor moth), have caterpillars that feed on pear leaves.

Moths That Affect Fruit

Some moths are known for eating the fruit of the pear tree, not just the leaves.

• The Tortricidae family includes moths like the Enarmonia formosana (cherrybark tortrix), which feeds on the bark, and the Cydia pomonella (codling moth), which is famous for burrowing into apples and pears. The Epiphyas postvittana (light brown apple moth) also feeds on pear trees.
• Finally, the ermine moths (family Yponomeutidae) also have species, like Scythropia crataegella (hawthorn moth), that use pear trees.