''Ephestia elutella'', the cacao moth, tobacco moth or warehouse moth, is a small
moth of the
family Pyralidae. It is probably native to Europe, but has been transported widely, even to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. A
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
is ''E. e. pterogrisella''.
The
wingspan is 14–20 mm. This moth flies throughout the warmer months, e.g. from the end of April to October in
Belgium and the
Netherlands.
Infestation
The caterpillars of ''Ephestia elutella'' are often considered a
pest
Pest or The Pest may refer to:
Science and medicine
* Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns
** Weed, a plant considered undesirable
* Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection
** ...
, as they feed on dry plant produce, such as
cocoa beans and
tobacco, as well as
cereal
A cereal is any Poaceae, grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, Cereal germ, germ, and bran. Cereal Grain, grain crops are grown in greater quantit ...
s and
dried fruit and
nuts. Less usual foods include dried-out meat and animal carcasses, specimens in
insect collections, and dry
wood.
Tobacco and its
related products can be infested by ''
Lasioderma serricorne
''Lasioderma serricorne'', commonly known as the cigarette beetle, cigar beetle, or tobacco beetle, is an insect very similar in appearance to the drugstore beetle (''Stegobium paniceum'') and the common furniture beetle (''Anobium punctatum''). A ...
'' (tobacco beetle) and ''Ephestia elutella'', which are the most widespread and damaging parasites to the
tobacco industry.
Infestation can range from the tobacco cultivated in the fields to the
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
used for manufacturing
cigar
A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder l ...
s,
cigarillos,
cigarette
A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhaled via the opp ...
s, etc.
Taxonomy
This
species has been known under a number of
junior synonym
The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
* In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...
s:
[See references in Savela (2009)]
* ''Ephestia amarella''
Dyar, 1904
* ''Ephestia icosiella''
Ragonot, 1888
* ''Ephestia infumatella''
Ragonot, 1887
* ''Ephestia roxburghi''
('' lapsus'')
* ''Ephestia roxburghii''
Gregson, 1873
* ''Ephestia roxburgii''
(''lapsus'')
* ''Ephestia uniformata''
Dufrane, 1942 ( variety)
* ''Homoeosoma affusella''
Ragonot, 1888
* ''Hyphantidium sericarium''
Scott, 1859
* ''Phycis angusta''
(Haworth, 1811)
* ''Phycis elutea''
Haworth, 1811; (unjustified emendation)
* ''Phycis rufa''
Haworth, 1811
* ''Phycis semirufa''
Haworth, 1811
* ''Tinea elutella''
Hübner, 1796
Footnotes
References
*
*
External links
Lepidoptera of BelgiumCacao moth on UKMoths
Phycitini
Household pest insects
Moths described in 1796
Invertebrates of the Arabian Peninsula
Moths of Japan
Moths of Europe
Moths of New Zealand
Insects of Turkey
Insects of Iceland
{{Phycitini-stub