Palm Leaf Skeletonizer Moth
Common NamePalm Leaf Skeletonizer Moth
Scientific NameHomaledra sabalella
FamilyBatrachedridae
SubfamilyBatrachedrinae
Wingspan (mm)12
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorstan, brown, black
HabitatPalm groves, urban landscapes, nurseries, and areas with host palm trees
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Host PlantsSabal palmetto, Serenoa repens, Cocos nucifera, Phoenix dactylifera, Roystonea regia, Washingtonia robusta
Flight PeriodYear-round in warm climates, multiple generations
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are yellowish-green caterpillars that feed gregariously on the underside of palm fronds, creating silken tunnels and skeletonizing the leaf tissue. Pupation occurs within these silken tunnels.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, pale tan/brown forewings with distinct small dark spots, and long whitish antennae. The characteristic skeletonizing damage on palm fronds caused by its larvae is also a key indicator.
Description
A small, slender moth with pale tan to light brown forewings, often speckled with darker scales, and typically featuring 3-4 small, dark spots arranged longitudinally. Its antennae are long and whitish.
