Lantana Defoliator
Common NameLantana Defoliator
Scientific NameLantanophaga pusillidactyla
FamilyPterophoridae
SubfamilyPterophorinae
Wingspan (mm)14
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatTropical and subtropical areas, disturbed lands, gardens, and agricultural areas where Lantana camara is present.
Geographic RangeNative to the Neotropics; widely introduced globally (e.g., Australia, Africa, Asia, Pacific islands) for biological control.
Host PlantsLantana camara, other Lantana species
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical climates; multiple generations in temperate regions.
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on Lantana flowers or leaves. Larvae feed on flowers, fruits, and young leaves, causing defoliation, before pupating on the host plant.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, cryptic brown/grey coloration, and the distinctive prominent labial palps. When at rest, the wings are often held in a characteristic 'plume' shape, though less obvious in this dorsal view.
Description
A small, slender moth with mottled brown and grey wings, often with white markings, and prominent forward-projecting labial palps giving it a 'snout-like' appearance.
