Agapeta zoegana | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Tortricidae |
Genus: | Agapeta |
Species: | A. zoegana |
Binomial name | |
Agapeta zoegana | |
Synonyms | |
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Agapeta zoegana is a species of moth known as the sulphur knapweed moth and the yellow-winged knapweed root moth. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against noxious knapweeds, particularly spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa).
The adult moth is bright yellow with areas of brown on its wings. It is about 11 millimeters long. Meyrick describes it -The forewing with costa moderately arched; bright yellow or yellowish-ferruginous; costal edge, a small subdorsal spot before middle, and a large terminal blotch with angulated edge including a spot of ground-colour ferruginous-fuscous. Hindwings are dark grey. [2] Julius von Kennel provides a full description. [3]
The adult lives for only a few days, during which time the female lays eggs on stems and leaves. The larva, a root miner, moves to the root of the plant and tunnels through the cortex as it feeds. This causes moderate damage to the plant.
This moth is native to Eurasia. It was introduced to the western and west-central United States starting in the 1980s and it is now established in knapweed populations. It reduces the spread of the plants in areas where mechanical and chemical control is not practical. It lives on spotted and diffuse knapweed and has not been found to damage other plants.
Flight is from May to August from dusk, and is attracted to light.
Centaurea diffusa, also known as diffuse knapweed, white knapweed or tumble knapweed, is a member of the genus Centaurea in the family Asteraceae. This species is common throughout western North America but is not actually native to the North American continent, but to the eastern Mediterranean.
Cyphocleonus achates is a species of true weevil known as the knapweed root weevil. It is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean and is used as an agent of biological pest control against noxious knapweeds, especially spotted knapweed. It has recently been spotted in India.
Larinus minutus is a species of true weevil known as the lesser knapweed flower weevil. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against noxious knapweeds, especially diffuse knapweed and spotted knapweed.
Bangasternus orientalis is a species of true weevil known as the yellow starthistle bud weevil. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed yellow starthistle.
Acleris forsskaleana, the maple leaftier moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Europe and North America in woodlands and gardens.
Acleris variegana, the garden rose tortricid moth or fruit tortricid, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It has a Palearctic distribution. The moth flies from July to September mainly at night and is attracted to bright lights. The larvae feed on various trees and shrubs including rose and apple.
Archips xylosteana, the variegated golden tortrix or brown oak tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae.
Aphelia paleana, the timothy tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Europe, and across the Palearctic to China and the Russian Far East.
Agapeta hamana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Europe, western and southern Siberia, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, western China and northern India.
Celypha cespitana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm, from western Europe to the Ural Mountains, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, the Near East, Iran, Russia, north-eastern China (Manchuria), Korea and Japan. It is also found in the Nearctic realm.
Ancylis achatana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from central and southern Europe including the United Kingdom and Ireland, east to the Baltic region, Asia Minor, Ukraine and Russia to the southern part of Trans-Ural.
Agapeta is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Tortricinae of the family Tortricidae.
Celypha rivulana is a small moth species of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe.
Acleris holmiana, the golden leafroller moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe and Asia Minor.
Ancylis mitterbacheriana is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula, most of the Balkan Peninsula and Ukraine.
Aethes francillana, the long-barred yellow conch, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. It is found in almost all of Europe, from north-western Africa to Afghanistan and Dzungarian Alatau in Central Asia. It is also found in the Ural Mountains, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, western Siberia, Asia Minor and Iran. The habitat consists of rough grassland, particularly chalk downland and coastal areas.
Cochylis flaviciliana, the gold-fringed conch, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It was described by Westwood in 1854. It is found in most of Europe and north-western Africa. The habitat consists of chalky grasslands.
Centaurea stoebe, the spotted knapweed or panicled knapweed, is a species of Centaurea native to eastern Europe, although it has spread to North America, where it is considered an invasive species. It forms a tumbleweed, helping to increase the species' reach, and the seeds are also enabled by a feathery pappus.
Ancylis obtusana, the small buckthorn roller, is a moth of the family Tortricidae.
Meadow knapweed, also known as hybrid knapweed or protean knapweed, is a fertile hybrid between black knapweed and brown knapweed. The taxonomic status of the species is uncertain, and meadow knapweed has been variously described as different species.