Biology:List of Lepidoptera that feed on Centaurea

Short description: none

Centaurea species (knapweeds, starthistles and relatives) are used as food plants by the caterpillars of a numerous Lepidoptera species, including:

Monophagous

Species which feed exclusively on Centaurea. Some are used in biological control of knapweeds that have become invasive weeds.

Bucculatricidae

• Bucculatrix centaureae – only on C. triniifolia

Cochylidae

• Sulphur knapweed moth (Agapeta zoegana) – recorded on diffuse knapweed (C. diffusa), spotted knapweed (C. maculosa) and others

Coleophoridae

• Coleophora didymella – only on greater knapweed (C. scabiosa)

Gelechiidae

• Spotted knapweed seedhead moth (Metzneria paucipunctella) – recorded on spotted knapweed (C. maculosa) and others

Polyphagous

Species which feed on Centaurea and other plants

Coleophoridae

• Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
  • C. alcyonipennella
  • C. brevipalpella
  • C. conspicuella
  • C. frischella
  • C. paripennella

Crambidae

• Dolicharthria punctalis
• Paratalanta hyalinalis – recorded on brown knapweed (C. jacea)
• Sitochroa verticalis – recorded on brown knapweed (C. jacea)

Geometridae

• Common pug (Eupithecia vulgata) – recorded on brown knapweed (C. jacea) and perhaps others
• Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia)
• Grey pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) – recorded on brown knapweed (C. jacea) and perhaps others
• Lime-speck pug (Eupithecia centaureata)

Noctuidae

• Marbled clover (Heliothis viriplaca)
• Hebrew character (Orthosia gothica) – recorded on wig knapweed (C. phrygia) and perhaps others
• Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Nymphalidae

• Spotted fritillary (Melitaea didyma) – recorded on brown knapweed (C. jacea) and perhaps others
• Knapweed fritillary (Melitaea phoebe) – recorded on brown knapweed (C. jacea) and others

Oecophoridae

• Agonopterix arenella

External links

• Robinson, Gaden S.; Ackery, Phillip R.; Kitching, Ian J.; Beccaloni, George W.; Hernández, Luis M. (2010). "Hostplant Genus: Centaurea". Natural History Museum, London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/list.dsml?&PGenus=Centaurea&sort=Family.