Ostrinia marginalis

Walker, 1865

Ostrinia marginalis is a small crambid described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is found across northern North America from Newfoundland and Maine westward through the Canadian provinces to the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The is associated with wetland , specifically bogs and marshes. Its larvae feed on Rumex (dock) and Polygonum (knotweed) species.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ostrinia marginalis: /ɒsˈtrɪniə mɑːrˈdʒɪnəlɪs/

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Identification

No specific diagnostic features beyond size and association are documented. The can be distinguished from the congeneric and economically significant () by habitat preference—O. marginalis occurs in natural wetlands rather than agricultural settings, and by its smaller size (O. nubilalis has wingspan 20–30 mm).

Habitat

Bogs and marshes.

Distribution

North America: Newfoundland and Maine west to Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon. Distribution records from GBIF confirm presence in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, Canada.

Diet

Larvae feed on Rumex and Polygonum .

Similar Taxa

  • Ostrinia nubilalisThe is larger (wingspan 20–30 mm), associated with agricultural crops rather than natural wetlands, and has been extensively studied as a major crop pest. O. marginalis is smaller, restricted to bog and marsh , and feeds on wild Rumex and Polygonum rather than cultivated crops.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The original description by Walker was published in 1866, though some sources list 1865 as the year of authorship. The was originally described under the basionym Scopula marginalis.

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Sources and further reading