Biology:Sphenarches anisodactylus

Short description: Species of plume moth

Sphenarches anisodactylus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pterophoridae
Genus:	Sphenarches
Species:	S. anisodactylus
Binomial name
Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864)
Synonyms
Oxyptilus anisodactylus Walker, 1864 Pterophorus diffusalis Walker, 1864 Sphenarches synophrys Meyrick, 1886 Sphenarches chroesus Strand, 1913 Pselnophorus dolichos Matsumura, 1931 Megalorhipida rishwani Makhan, 1994

Sphenarches anisodactylus, commonly known as the geranium plume moth, is a species of moth in the family Pterophoridae. It is found in western Africa, Madagascar , India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, the New Hebrides and Central and South America, as well as Australia, where it has been recorded from Cape York to central New South Wales. It is found in the United States, where it has been recorded from Florida, as well as Mississippi. It is also present in the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand.

The wingspan is about 10 millimetres (0.39 in).

The larvae feed on flower buds and flowers of Dolichos lablab, Lagenaria, Pelargonium and Fabaceae species. Other recorded food plants include Brillantaisia lamium, Caperonia castaneifolia, Phaseolus vulgaris, Hibiscus mutabilis, Thalia geniculata, Mimosa pudica, Orchidaceae, Averrhoa bilimbi, Passiflora foetida, Antirrhinum majus, Theobroma cacao and Lantana camara.

External links

• Australian Faunal Directory
• Moths of Australia
• Australian Insects
• Images

Wikidata ☰ Q7576629 entry