| Hellinsia beneficus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pterophoridae |
| Genus: | Hellinsia |
| Species: | H. beneficus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hellinsia beneficus (Yano & Heppner, 1983) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hellinsia beneficus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is native to Mexico, but was introduced to Hawaii in 1973 as a biological control agent against mistflower, Ageratina riparia .
The species was identified by Kôji Yano and John B. Heppner in 1983 as Oidaematophorus beneficus. In 1995, it was transferred to the genus Leiptilus by Miller and Gielis and the species became known as Leioptilus beneficus. [1] The genus is now recognised as Hellinsia and the species as H. beneficus.
The wingspan is 22–28 millimetres (0.87–1.10 in). Adults are on wing in February and July, at an altitude of 450 to 1,350 metres (1,480 to 4,430 ft). [2] The moth prefers higher altitudes and has rarely been observed below 460 m (1500 ft) by researchers in Hawaii. [3]
The larvae feed on Ageratina riparia . Pupation takes place on leaves or in litter at the base of the plant or on the stem. The moth larvae create smooth edged holes in the plant's leaves, which stunt its growth. [4] [5] Because the A. riparia is highly invasive in tropical climates, the moth has been used as a biological control agent to slow its growth. [4] Although the larvae are highly specific to A. riparia, they have also reportedly been found feeding on A. adenophora in Hawaii. [4] [5]
The parasitoid wasp, Meteorus laphygmae has been observed parasitizing the species' larvae in Hawaii. [3]
H. beneficus is native to Mexico, in the region which its larval host plant, A. riparia originates. The species of moth has since been introduced to other regions as a biological control agent against A. riparia. After collecting specimens from Mexico, unsuccessful attempts were made to introduce the species to Hawaii in 1959 and 1965. [3] The moth was successfully introduced in Hawaii in 1973 when a total of approximately 1525 specimens from Contreras, Mexico were released at Mt. Kaala and Kona. [6] [3]
The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblage called "microlepidoptera".
Ageratina riparia, commonly known as mistflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Mexico. The species is widely adventive and has spread to Cuba, Jamaica, and other parts of the Caribbean. It has also been introduced as an ornamental plant and naturalized in a variety of regions, including parts of Hawaii, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Macaronesia, Oceania, Peru, and the Indian subcontinent. In tropical climates, A. riparia is highly invasive and a variety of control methods have been developed to reduce its spread.
Procecidochares is a genus of tephritid or fruit flies in the family Tephritidae.
Procecidochares alani is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the genus Procecidochares.
Hellinsia is a genus of moths in the family Pterophoridae. It was created by J.W. Tutt in honour of the entomologist John Hellins.
Platyptilia isodactylus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae found in China, Europe and was introduced to Australia and New Zealand for biological control. It was first described by the German entomologists, Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1852.
Lantanophaga pusillidactyla, the lantana plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is native to the southern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. It was introduced to Australia accidentally in 1936 and is now found from Sydney to Cairns along the coast. It has also been introduced to Hawaii in 1902, Pohnpei in 1948, and Palau in 1960 for biological control. It has since been recorded from Yap in 1987–1988 and is now distributed on all islands of the Mariana and Caroline Islands where the host plant is found, except Aguijan.
Exelastis pumilio is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It has worldwide tropical distribution, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Japan, Micronesia, South Africa the Virgin Islands as well as Queensland and New Guinea.
Lioptilodes albistriolatus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. In South America and Central America it has been recorded from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru and Puerto Rico. It is also present in North America, where it is known from Mexico, California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.
Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is native to California and Arizona, south through Mexico to Costa Rica. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.
Oidaematophorus lithodactyla, also known as the dusky plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae found from Europe to Asia Minor and Japan. It was first described by German lepidopterist, Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1833.
Paraplatyptilia fragilis is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It was described by Lord Walsingham from the Klamath Lakes area in northern California, and has a wide range in the Great Basin, inland montane and desert ranges from eastern British Columbia to Utah, and from New Mexico to southern California and Baja California Norte in Mexico.
Pterophorinae is a subfamily of moths in the family Pterophoridae.
Hellinsia glenni is a moth of the family Pterophoridae described by Everett D. Cashatt in 1972. It is found in North America, including Florida, Mississippi and California.
Hellinsia chlorias, the chlorias plume moth, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in the United States, including Mississippi, New York, Colorado and Kentucky.
Hellinsia angulofuscus is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in Argentina (Salta), Brazil and Paraguay (Asuncion).
Hellinsia paraochracealis is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in Brazil.
Hellinsia glaphyrotes is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is found in Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.
Entyloma ageratinae, commonly known as the mist flower smut, is a leaf smut fungus and plant pathogen widely employed as a biological herbicide in the control of the invasive plant Ageratina riparia. The pathogen was first identified in Jamaica in 1974 and was isolated as a distinct species in 1988.
