Anatrachyntis rileyi

Anatrachyntis rileyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Cosmopterigidae
Genus: Anatrachyntis
Species: A. rileyi
Binomial name
Anatrachyntis rileyi
(Walsingham, 1882)
Synonyms
  • Batrachedra rileyi Walsingham, 1882
  • Pyroderces rileyi
  • Sathrobrota rileyi
  • Batrachedra stigmatophora Walsingham, 1897
  • Pyroderces stigmatophora
  • Anatrachyntis stigmatophora

The Pink Cornworm, Pink Bud Moth or Pink Scavenger (Anatrachyntis rileyi) is a species of moth of the Cosmopterigidae family. It was first described from the southern United States, but it is probably an introduction to North America. It is found in much of the warm or tropical areas of the world, including northern Australia, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Antilles and South America (south to Argentina).

The wingspan is 9-12 mm. They have brown fore wings with pale streaks, and plain grey hind wings, each edged with a fringe. When at rest, the moth extends its antennae straight out in front of its head.

The larvae feed on vegetable trash. It has been found in many kinds of old leguminous pods, aloe, banana, coffee beans, coffee, cherries, castor oil beans and pods, cotton bolls, eggplant, milo maize grain, old maize silk, dead Panicum torridum, pineapple (dried parts, fruits, stored seeds), Crassula, Samanea saman, Sapindus oahuensis, tamarind, and others.

Full-grown larvae are 7-8 mm long, cylindrical and pink to deep wine red with a dark brown thorax, a pale brown head, and a black mouth.

The larva pupates in a whitish cocoon amongst the frass where it has fed. The pupa is 4-5 mm long, light yellowish brown and smooth. The pupal period is 11-13 days.

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