Crocidosema Zeller, 1847 (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Eucosmini)

There is some confusion as to which species belong to Crocidosema. Three species, C. blackburnii, C. leprara, and C. marcidella appear to be endemic, while C. lantana (previously known as Epinotia lantana in Hawaii) was purposely introduced. The widespread species, Crocidosema plebejana, does not occur in Hawaii, although C. blackburnii is sometimes misidentified as C. plebejana.

Crocidosema blackburnii (Butler, 1881)
Crocidosema lantana (Busck, 1910)
Crocidosema leprara (Walsingham, 1907)
Crocidosema marcidella (Walsingham, 1907)
 

Crocidosema marcidella
Crocidosema blackburnii (Butler, 1881)
Islands: Midway, Laysan, French Frigate Shoals, Necker, Nihoa, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Hawaii
Hostplants: Abutilon spp., Sida spp.
Status: endemic?
Comments: Larvae in flower buds, fruits, seeds.

 

 

 

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Crocidosema lantana (Busck, 1910)
Islands: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii
Hostplants: Bignonia chrysantha (pods), Lantana (flowers, berries, twigs), Litchi (stems), Tecoma stans (terminal twigs)
Status: purposely introduced
Comments: Previously known in Hawaii as Epinotia lantana.

 

 

 

No Image Available
Crocidosema leprara (Walsingham, 1907)
Islands: Necker, Nihoa, Oahu, Molokai
Hostplants: Abutilon?, Sida?
Status: endemic?
Comments: Confused with Crocidosema plebejana

 

 

 

No Image Available
Crocidosema marcidella (Walsingham, 1907)
Islands: Kauai, Oahu
Hostplants: Abutilon sandwicense, Hibiscus arnottianus
Status: endemic?
Comments: Parasitized by Pristomerus hawaiiensis, Trathala flavoorbitalis (Ichneumonidae)

Mt. Kaala, Oahu 1984

 

Source(s): Zimmerman EC. 1978. Insects of Hawaii, Vol.9.1 Microlepidoptera. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu.