Cryptoblabes gnidiella

Honeydew Moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Tribe: Cryptoblabini
Genus: Cryptoblabes
Species: C. gnidiella
Binomial name
Cryptoblabes gnidiella
(Millière, 1867)
Synonyms
  • Ephestia gnidiella Millière, 1867
  • Cryptoblabes aliena Swezey, 1909
  • Albinia wockiana Briosi, 1877[1]

The Honeydew Moth or Christmasberry Moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella) is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is natively found around the Mediterranean Sea and is an introduced species in South America and Middle America.

The wingspan is 11–20 mm. The caterpillars feed on orange fruit and other types of citrus fruit, apple and maize. The adults feed on honeydew, and their association with the "christmasberry" (Brazilian Pepper, Schinus terebinthifolius) seems to be mainly for that reason.

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