Ailanthus webworm 435059 194257453 2008-02-26T21:22:28Z Eubot 231599 Removed taxobox colour. See [[User:Eubot/Removing colours from taxoboxen]]. {{Taxobox | name = Ailanthus webworm | image = Atteva_punctella_8512.JPG | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Lepidoptera]] | familia = [[Yponomeutidae]] | subfamilia = [[Attevinae]] | genus = '''''Atteva''''' | species = '''''A. punctella''''' | binomial = ''Atteva punctella'' | binomial_authority = [[Pieter Cramer|Cramer]], [[1781]] }} The '''Ailanthus webworm''', ''Atteva punctella'', is an [[ermine moth]] now found commonly in the [[United States]]. The Ailanthus webworm is thought to be native to South [[Florida]] and the American tropics, habitat to its original larval host plant, the Paradise Tree ([[Simarouba glauca]]). Another tree called Tree-of-Heaven ([[Ailanthus altissima]]), originally from China, has been widely introduced and ''Atteva punctella'' has jumped to this new host plant (giving it its common name, Ailanthus webworm). The moth does not survive cold [[winter]]s, but [[Insect migration|migrate]]s north each year so it is commonly seen in summer throughout the continental [[United State|US]], and occasionally eastern [[Canada]]. [[Larva]]e produce [[nest]]s on the [[host plant]] by pulling two to three [[leaflet]]s around a network of loose webbing. Then they consume the leaflets. The [[caterpillar]]s have a wide, light greenish-brown stripe down their backs and several thin, alternating white and olive-green stripes along their sides. The adult [[moth]] visits [[flower]]s and is a [[pollinator]]. Ailanthus is considered an [[invasive species]] by some, although it is still sold by nurseries as yard plant, mainly because it will grow in [[pollution|polluted]] or otherwise difficult places. Atteva punctella can be a minor [[pest (animal)|pest]] in nurseries, although it rarely does serious damage. [[Category:Yponomeutidae]] {{moth-stub}}