Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera


Erechthias simulans (Butler, 1882)
Family: Tineidae
Subfamily:
Identification: Adults are black or dark brown with white forewings. There is a well-developed tuft of long, rather stiff hairs near the base of the upperside of the hindwing in the male. This tuft is represented in the female by only a few finer hairs. The forewing tips are strongly upturned.
Wing Span: 1.5-2.0 cm
Life History:
Flight:
Caterpillar Hosts: Dead and decaying plant stems (particularly the bark and outer wood). They are polyphagous and likely very indiscriminate in their eating habits. Possible food plants seem to include most core eudicots, as the larvae have been recorded from across that clade: Known food plants are sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus), lonomea (Sapindus oahuensis), saman (Albizia saman) and coffee trees (Coffea); the last two are not native to the Pacific region, testifying to the species' adaptability.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Widespread across Polynesia and ranges into some adjacent regions. It is known from Fiji, Samoa, the Ellice Islands, the Hawaiian Islands (including Midway Island), the Marquesas (at least Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Tahuata), the Society Islands and Solomon Islands, Australia (at least Queensland), and eastern Africa
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
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Verified Sightings

Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 12, 2018
Submitted by: Laurlen
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 04, 2022
  Details

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