Laetilia coccidivora
Species of moth
Laetilia coccidivora | |
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Imago | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Pyralidae |
Genus: | Laetilia |
Species: | L. coccidivora |
Binomial name | |
Laetilia coccidivora (Comstock, 1879)[1] | |
Synonyms | |
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Laetilia coccidivora, the scale-feeding snout moth, is a species of snout moth in the genus Laetilia. It was described by John Henry Comstock in 1879.[2]
It is found in the southern United States, including California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.
The wingspan is 10–17 mm.[3]
The larvae are predatory on Coccidae species. They feed on the eggs and young. It uses carminic acid, acquired from its prey, as a defence against its own predators.[4]
References
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