List of Lepidoptera that feed on birches

Birches, Betula spp., are used as food plants by the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species including:

Monophagous

Species which feed exclusively on Betula

Bucculatricidae leaf-miners:
- Bucculatrix canadensisella
- Bucculatrix coronatella
Coleophoridae
- Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
  - C. betulella – only known from Silver Birch (B. pendula) and Downy Birch (B. pubescens)
  - C. cornuta
  - C. hornigi
  - C. lentella
  - C. milvipennis
Notodontidae
- Leucodonta bicoloria (White Prominent)

Polyphagous

Species which feed on Betula and other plants

Bedelliidae
- Bedellia somnulentella – recorded on Paper Birch (B. papyrifera)
Bucculatricidae
- Bucculatrix demaryella
Coleophoridae
- Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
  - C. albovanescens
  - C. anatipennella
  - C. binderella
  - C. comptoniella
  - C. fuscedinella
  - C. fuscocuprella
  - C. ibipennella
  - C. malivorella
  - C. orbitella
  - C. persimplexella
  - C. piperata – recorded on Red Birch (B. occidentalis)
  - C. potentillae
  - C. pruniella
  - C. serratella
  - C. siccifolia
Drepanidae
- Drepana binaria (Oak Hook-tip)
Gelechiidae
- Chionodes viduella
Geometridae
- Agriopis marginaria (Dotted Border)
- Alcis repandata (Mottled Beauty)
- Cabera exanthemata (Common Wave)
- Cabera pusaria (Common White Wave)
- Campaea margaritata (Light Emerald)
- Chloroclysta truncata (Common Marbled Carpet)
- Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn)
- Crocallis elinguaria (Scalloped Oak)
- Ectropis crepuscularia (The Engrailed)
- Epirrita autumnata (Autumnal Moth)
- Epirrita christyi (Pale November Moth)
- Epirrita dilutata (November Moth)
- Erannis defoliaria (Mottled Umber)
- Eupithecia subfuscata (Grey Pug)
- Geometra papilionaria (Large Emerald)
- Hemithea aestivaria (Common Emerald)
- Lomaspilis marginata (Clouded Border)
- Odontopera bidentata (Scalloped Hazel)
- Operophtera brumata (Winter Moth)
- Opisthograptis luteolata (Brimstone Moth)
- Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Willow Beauty) – Leaves
- Selenia tetralunaria (Purple Thorn)
Hepialidae
- Gazoryctra wielgusi
- Korscheltellus gracilis (Conifer Swift)
- Sthenopis argenteomaculatus
Lymantriidae
- Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Brown-tail)
- Euproctis similis (Yellow-tail)
- Lymantria dispar (Gypsy Moth) – recorded on Paper Birch (B. papyrifera) and Gray Birch (B. populifolia)
Noctuidae
- Acronicta leporina (The Miller)
- Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)
- Acronicta tridens (Dark Dagger)
- Cosmia trapezina (The Dun-bar)
- Euplexia lucipara (Small Angle Shades)
- Eupsilia transversa (The Satellite)
- Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth) – recorded on Silver Birch (B. pendula)
- Noctua comes (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
- Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
- Panolis flammea (Pine Beauty)
- Phlogophora meticulosa (Angle Shades)
- Xestia triangulum (Double Square-spot)
Notodontidae
- Nadata gibbosa (Rough Prominent)
- Phalera bucephala (Buff-tip)
- Ptilodon capucina (Coxcomb Prominent)
Nymphalidae
- Limenitis arthemis (American White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple) – prefers Sweet Birch (B. lenta) over Yellow Birch (B. alleghaniensis)
Saturniidae
- Pavonia pavonia (Emperor Moth)
Sphingidae
- Ceratomia amyntor (Elm Sphinx)
- Laothoe populi (Poplar Hawk-moth)
- Mimas tiliae (Lime Hawk-moth)
- Smerinthus jamaicensis (Twin-spotted Sphinx)
Tortricidae
- Syndemis musculana

External links

Caterpillar Hostplants Database