Episimus Walsingham, 1892 (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Olethreutini)

Episimus utilis, the only Episimus known from Hawaii, was purposely introduced to help control Christmas berry. It is most likely to be confused with Crocidosema, but see also Eccoptocera and Cydia.

Episimus utilis Zimmerman, 1978
Islands: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii
Hostplants: Schinus terebinthifolius (Christmas berry or Brazilian peppertree)
Status: purposely introduced
Comments: Leaf-webbers. Introduced to Hawaii in 1954 from Brazil. Parasitized by Bracon omiodivorum (another purposely introduced species).

 

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