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