Ailanthus webworm
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2008-02-26T21:22:28Z
Eubot
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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]]
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