Fruit-feeder
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Ascalapha odorata
black witch, black witch moth, mariposa de la muerte, duppy bat, mariposa-bruxa, ura, money moth, money bat
The black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) is a large, bat-shaped nocturnal moth and the largest noctuoid in the continental United States. Females reach wingspans up to 24 cm, while males are smaller at approximately 12 cm. The species ranges from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Argentina, with migratory populations reaching as far north as Canada. It holds prominent cultural significance across Latin America and the Caribbean, where it is widely associated with death, misfortune, and spiritual beliefs.
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Batrachedra is the largest genus in the moth family Batrachedridae, containing approximately 114 species as of 2018. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with particularly high diversity in the Indomalayan realm. The name derives from Greek 'batrachos' (frog) and 'edra' (seat), referring to the frog-like resting posture of adults. Early stages remain unknown for most species.
Blastodacna
Blastodacna is a genus of small moths in the family Elachistidae, first described by Wocke in 1876. The genus contains approximately 15 recognized species distributed primarily across the Holarctic region, with the majority of species occurring in the Palearctic. Taxonomic placement of this genus has been disputed, with some authorities historically assigning it to Agonoxenidae or recognizing it as the separate family Blastodacnidae. The genus includes several species associated with fruit trees, notably Blastodacna pyrigalla, which is known as a pest of pear.
Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria
Blackberry Looper, Blackberry Looper Moth, Raspberry Looper
A small emerald geometrid moth widespread across eastern and central North America. Adults are active from spring through fall with multiple generations. Larvae feed on blackberry and raspberry fruits as well as flower heads of numerous Asteraceae species. The species has been documented on prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) and recently recorded on Eriogonum alatum (Polygonaceae), representing a host range extension beyond its previously known associations.
Nanophyes
Nanophyes is a genus of small weevils in the family Brentidae, distributed across Europe, Japan, Southern Africa, and parts of Asia. Species are associated with specific host plants, with larvae typically developing inside fruits and adults feeding on leaves, pollen, and nectar. Some species have been studied as potential biological control agents for aquatic weeds, while others are fruit predators of forest trees.
Ophiomyia lantanae
Lantana Seed Fly
Ophiomyia lantanae is a small fly in the family Agromyzidae, native to the Americas from the southern United States to Brazil. It was introduced to Australia in 1914 as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Lantana camara. The species has since established populations in multiple countries across several continents. It is commonly known as the Lantana Seed Fly due to its association with its host plant.
Polygonia interrogationis
Question Mark, question mark butterfly
Polygonia interrogationis, commonly called the question mark butterfly, is a North American nymphalid butterfly recognized by the distinctive silver ?-shaped mark on the underside of its hindwing. Adults have a wingspan of 4.5–7.6 cm and exhibit cryptic coloration resembling a dead leaf when wings are closed. The species produces two generations annually, with adults active from May through September. Winter-form adults hibernate in sheltered locations and emerge in spring to reproduce.
Tanaostigmodes
Tanaostigmodes is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Tanaostigmatidae, established by Ashmead in 1896. Species in this genus exhibit diverse host associations with Fabaceae, including fruit-feeding and gall-inducing behaviors. Some species have reached pest status on cultivated legumes, while others induce distinct gall morphotypes on native plants. The genus is distributed across multiple continents including Asia and the Americas.
Tinagma gaedikei
Tinagma gaedikei is a small moth in the family Douglasiidae, described by Harrison in 2005. It is known from a restricted range in the central United States, specifically central Illinois and northern Kentucky. The species has a specialized two-year life cycle tied to its host plant, with larvae feeding internally on fruits.