List of Lepidoptera that feed on Centaurea
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.
- Bucculatrix centaureae – only on
Cochylidae
- Sulphur knapweed moth (Agapeta zoegana) – recorded on diffuse knapweed (C. diffusa), spotted knapweed (C. maculosa) and others
- Coleophora didymella – only on greater knapweed (C. scabiosa)
- Spotted knapweed seedhead moth[verification needed] (Metzneria paucipunctella) – recorded on spotted knapweed (C. maculosa) and others
Polyphagous[]
Species which feed on Centaurea and other plants
- Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
- 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)
- Marbled clover (Heliothis viriplaca)
- Hebrew character (Orthosia gothica) – recorded on wig knapweed (C. phrygia) and perhaps others
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- 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
External links[]
- Robinson, Gaden S.; Ackery, Phillip R.; Kitching, Ian J.; Beccaloni, George W. & Hernández, Luis M. (2010). "Hostplant Genus: Centaurea". HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London.
Categories:
- Lists of Lepidoptera by food
- Centaurea