List of Lepidoptera that feed on Prunus

Prunus species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of a number of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). These include:

Monophagous

Species which feed exclusively on Prunus

• Bucculatricidae
  • Bucculatrix copeuta – only on Pin Cherry (P. pensylvanica)
• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. adjectella – only on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
    • C. amygdalina
    • C. demissella – only on Choke Cherry (P. virginiana)
    • C. lapidicornis
    • C. prunifoliae – only on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
    • C. umbratica
• Geometridae
  • Rheumaptera prunivorata

Polyphagous

Species which feed on Prunus and other plants

• Arctiidae
  • Hypercompe indecisa
• Bucculatricidae
  • Bucculatrix pomifoliella
• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. anatipennella – Leaves – recorded on Wild Cherry (Prunus avium), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), and possibly others
    • C. atlantica
    • C. atromarginata
    • C. badiipennella – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
    • C. cerasivorella
    • C. coracipennella – recorded on Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus), Bird Cherry (Prunus padus), Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and others
    • C. hemerobiella
    • C. laticornella – recorded on Wild Plum (Prunus americana)
    • C. lineapulvella
    • C. malivorella
    • C. nigricella
    • C. paripennella
    • C. pruniella
    • C. sacramenta
    • C. spinella (Apple-and-Plum Case-bearer) – recorded on Sour Cherry (P. cerasus) and Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
• Geometridae
  • Agriopis marginaria (Dotted Border)
  • Campaea margaritata (Light Emerald)
  • Chloroclysta truncata (Common Marbled Carpet) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
  • Chloroclystis rectangulata (Green Pug) – recorded on cherry flowers
  • Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn)
  • Crocallis elinguaria (Scalloped Oak) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
  • Ectropis crepuscularia (The Engrailed)
  • Epirrita autumnata (Autumnal Moth)
  • Epirrita christyi (Pale November Moth)
  • Epirrita dilutata (November Moth)
  • Erannis defoliaria (Mottled Umber)
  • Eupithecia exiguata (Mottled Pug)
  • Hemithea aestivaria (Common Emerald)
  • Lomographa bimaculata (White-pinion Spotted) – Leaves – recorded on Wild Cherry (P. avium), Blackthorn (P. spinosa), and possibly others
  • Odontopera bidentata (Scalloped Hazel) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
  • Operophtera brumata (Winter Moth)
  • Opisthograptis luteolata (Brimstone Moth)
  • Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty) – Leaves – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and possibly others
  • Selenia tetralunaria (Purple Thorn)
• Lasiocampidae
  • Malacosoma americanum (Eastern Tent Caterpillar) – recorded on Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and others
• Lymantriidae
  • Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Brown-tail)
  • Euproctis similis (Yellow-tail) – recorded on cherries
• Noctuidae
  • Agrochola circellaris (The Brick) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
  • Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)
  • Acronicta tridens (Dark Dagger)
  • Amphipyra tragopoginis (Mouse Moth)
  • Cosmia trapezina (The Dun-bar)
  • Eupsilia transversa (The Satellite)
  • Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
  • Naenia typica (The Gothic)
  • Noctua comes (Lesser Yellow Underwing) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
  • Noctua janthina (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
  • Orthosia cerasi (Common Quaker)
  • Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
  • Phlogophora meticulosa (Angle Shades)
  • Xestia triangulum (Double Square-spot) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
• Nolidae
  • Nola cucullatella (Short-cloaked Moth)
• Notodontidae
  • Nadata gibbosa (Rough Prominent)
  • Phalera bucephala (Buff-tip)
  • Ptilodon capucina (Coxcomb Prominent) – recorded on Bird Cherry (P. padus)
• Nymphalidae
  • Limenitis arthemis (American White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple) – prefers Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) over Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) and Black Cherry (P. serotina)
• Oecophoridae
  • Esperia oliviella – recorded in dead twigs of Blackthorn (P. spinosa)
• Papilionidae
  • Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail) – recorded on cherries
  • Papilio multicaudata (Two-Tailed Swallowtail) – recorded on chokecherries
• Saturniidae
  • Automeris io (Io Moth) – recorded on Pin Cherry (P. pensylvanica)
  • Callosamia promethea (Promethea Silkmoth)
  • Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia Moth)
  • Pavonia pavonia (Emperor Moth)
• Sphingidae
  • Ceratomia amyntor (Elm Sphinx) – recorded on cherries
  • Mimas tiliae (Lime Hawk-moth)
  • Smerinthus jamaicensis (Twin-spotted Sphinx) – recorded on Peach (P. persica), plums and others
• Tortricidae
  • Enarmonia formosana (Cherrybark Tortrix) – recorded on bark of cherries
  • Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth)
• Yponomeutidae
  • Scythropia crataegella (Hawthorn Moth) – recorded on Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and others

External links

• Caterpillar Hostplants Database