Prunus ''Prunus'' is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes (among many others) the fruits plums, Cherry, cherries, peaches, Peach#Nectarine, nectarines, apricots, and almonds. Native to the North American temperate regions, the neotropics of Sou ...

'' species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of a number of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). These include:

Monophagous A generalist species is able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources (for example, a heterotroph with a varied diet). A specialist species can thrive only in a narrow range of e ...

Species which feed exclusively on ''Prunus'' * Bucculatricidae ** '' Bucculatrix copeuta'' – only on pin cherry (''P. pensylvanica'') *

Coleophoridae __NOTOC__ The Coleophoridae are a family of small moths, belonging to the huge superfamily Gelechioidea. Collectively known as case-bearers, casebearing moths or case moths, this family is represented on all continents, but the majority are foun ...

** Several ''

Coleophora ''Coleophora'' is a very large genus of moths of the family Coleophoridae. It contains some 1,350 described species. The genus is represented on all continents, but the majority are found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Many authors ...

'' case-bearer species: *** '' C. adjectella'' – only on

blackthorn ''Prunus spinosa'', called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. The species is native to Europe, western Asia, and regionally in northwest Africa. It is locally naturalized in New Zealand, Tasmania, ...

(''P. spinosa'') *** '' C. amygdalina'' *** '' C. demissella'' – only on

choke cherry ''Prunus virginiana'', commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry (also black chokecherry for ''P. virginiana'' var. ''demissa''), is a species of bird cherry (''Prunus'' subgenus ''Padus'') nat ...

(''P. virginiana'') *** '' C. lapidicornis'' *** '' C. prunifoliae'' – only on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') *** '' C. umbratica'' *

Geometridae The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''metro ...

** '' Rheumaptera prunivorata''

Polyphagous

Species which feed on ''Prunus'' and other plants *

Arctiidae The Arctiinae (formerly called the family Arctiidae) are a large and diverse subfamily of moths with around 11,000 species found all over the world, including 6,000 neotropical species.Scoble, MJ. (1995). ''The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and ...

** ''

Hypercompe indecisa ''Hypercompe indecisa'' is a moth of the family Erebidae first described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found in Argentina and Uruguay. Larvae have been recorded feeding on ''Beta'', ''Brassica'', ''Citrus'', ''Cucurbita'', ''Datura'', ''Dio ...

'' * Bucculatricidae ** '' Bucculatrix pomifoliella'' *

** Several ''

'' case-bearer species: *** '' C. anatipennella'' – leaves – recorded on wild cherry (''

Prunus avium ''Prunus avium'', commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry, gean, or bird cherryWorld Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. is a species of cherry, a flowering plant in the rose family, ...

''), blackthorn (''

Prunus spinosa ''Prunus spinosa'', called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. The species is native to Europe, western Asia, and regionally in northwest Africa. It is locally naturalized in New Zealand, Tasmania, ...

''), and possibly others *** '' C. atlantica'' *** '' C. atromarginata'' *** '' C. badiipennella'' – recorded on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') *** '' C. cerasivorella'' *** '' C. coracipennella'' – recorded on sour cherry (''

Prunus cerasus ''Prunus cerasus'' (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of ''Prunus'' in the subgenus '' Cerasus'' (cherries), native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (''Prunus avium''), but ha ...

''), bird cherry ('' Prunus padus''), blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') and others *** '' C. hemerobiella'' *** '' C. laticornella'' – recorded on wild plum (''

Prunus americana ''Prunus americana'', commonly called the American plum, wild plum, or Marshall's large yellow sweet plum, is a species of ''Prunus'' native to North America from Saskatchewan and Idaho south to New Mexico and east to Québec, Maine and Florida ...

'') *** '' C. lineapulvella'' *** '' C. malivorella'' *** '' C. nigricella'' *** '' C. paripennella'' *** '' C. pruniella'' *** '' C. sacramenta'' *** '' C. spinella'' (apple-and-plum case-bearer) – recorded on sour cherry (''P. cerasus'') and blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') *

**''

Agriopis marginaria The dotted border (''Agriopis marginaria'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1776. It is found throughout Europe, except the far north, and the Near East. The female of this ...

'' (dotted border) ** ''

Campaea margaritata ''Campaea margaritata'', commonly known in the UK as the light emerald, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1767 12th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. It is widely distributed throughout E ...

'' (light emerald) ** ''

Chloroclysta truncata The common marbled carpet (''Dysstroma truncata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is sometimes placed in the genus '' Chloroclysta''. It is very common throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East. The species was first describe ...

'' (common marbled carpet) – recorded on bird cherry (''P. padus'') ** '' Chloroclystis rectangulata'' (green pug) – recorded on cherry flowers ** '' Colotois pennaria'' (feathered thorn) ** ''

Crocallis elinguaria The scalloped oak (''Crocallis elinguaria'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Distribution This common species can be found from Europe to eas ...

'' (scalloped oak) – recorded on bird cherry (''P. padus'') ** ''

Ectropis crepuscularia The engrailed and small engrailed (''Ectropis crepuscularia'') are moths of the family Geometridae found from the British Isles through central and eastern Europe to the Russian Far East and Kazakhstan. The western Mediterranean and Asia Minor ...

'' (engrailed) ** '' Epirrita autumnata'' (autumnal moth) ** '' Epirrita christyi'' (pale November moth) ** ''

Epirrita dilutata The November moth (''Epirrita dilutata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. It can be found in the Palearctic realm in western Europe from central Scandinavia ...

'' (November moth) ** '' Erannis defoliaria'' (mottled umber) ** '' Eupithecia exiguata'' (mottled pug) ** ''

Hemithea aestivaria The common emerald (''Hemithea aestivaria'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species is found throughout the Nearctic and Palearctic regions and the Near East. It is mostly commonly found in the southern half of the British Isles. It w ...

'' (common emerald) ** '' Lomographa bimaculata'' (white-pinion spotted) – leaves – recorded on wild cherry (''P. avium''), blackthorn (''P. spinosa''), and possibly others ** ''

Odontopera bidentata The scalloped hazel (''Odontopera bidentata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759. Distribution It is a common species of northern and central Europe including the British Is ...

'' (scalloped hazel) – recorded on bird cherry (''P. padus'') ** ''

Operophtera brumata :''In North America, "winter moth" usually denotes the invasive species ''Operophtera brumata'', but may also mean refer to a native species, '' Erannis tiliaria'' (linden looper) or '' Operophtera bruceata'' (bruce spanworm).'' The winter moth ( ...

'' (winter moth) ** '' Opisthograptis luteolata'' (brimstone moth) ** '' Peribatodes rhomboidaria'' (willow beauty) – leaves – recorded on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') and possibly others ** ''

Selenia tetralunaria The purple thorn (''Selenia tetralunaria'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767. It is a species of northern and central Europe. It has a scattered distribution in Britain b ...

'' (purple thorn) *

Lasiocampidae The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also refers to the Pyralidae), or lappet moths. Over 2,000 species occur worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied. It i ...

** '' Malacosoma americanum'' (eastern tent caterpillar) – recorded on black cherry (''

Prunus serotina ''Prunus serotina'', commonly called black cherry,World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a deciduous tree or shrub of the g ...

'') and others *

Lymantriidae The Lymantriinae (formerly called the Lymantriidae) are a subfamily of moths of the family Erebidae. The taxon was erected by George Hampson in 1893. Many of its component species are referred to as "tussock moths" of one sort or another. The cat ...

** '' Euproctis chrysorrhoea'' (brown-tail) ** '' Euproctis similis'' (yellow-tail) – recorded on cherries * Noctuidae ** '' Agrochola circellaris'' (brick) – recorded on bird cherry (''P. padus'') ** '' Acronicta psi'' (grey dagger) ** ''

Acronicta tridens The dark dagger (''Acronicta tridens'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. It is distributed throughout Europe (from southern Fennoscandia to the Balkans and Ita ...

'' (dark dagger) ** '' Amphipyra tragopoginis'' (mouse moth) ** '' Cosmia trapezina'' (dun-bar) ** '' Eupsilia transversa'' (satellite) ** '' Melanchra persicariae'' (dot moth) – recorded on bird cherry (''P. padus'') ** ''

Naenia typica The Gothic (''Naenia typica'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. It is distributed in temperate Eurasia, in the Palearctic realm, including Europ ...

'' (gothic) ** '' Noctua comes'' (lesser yellow underwing) – recorded on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') ** '' Noctua janthina'' (lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing) – recorded on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') ** ''

Orthosia cerasi The common Quaker (''Orthosia cerasi'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. Some authors prefer the synonym ''Orthosia stabilis'' ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775). It is distributed througho ...

'' (common Quaker) ** '' Orthosia gothica'' (Hebrew character) ** '' Phlogophora meticulosa'' (angle shades) ** ''

Xestia triangulum The double square-spot (''Xestia triangulum'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed through most of Europe except Portugal, the Mediterranean islands and northernmost Fennoscandia. In the East, the species ranges East across th ...

'' (double square-spot) – recorded on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') *

Nolidae Nolidae is a family of moths with about 1,700 described species worldwide. They are mostly small with dull coloration, the main distinguishing feature being a silk cocoon with a vertical exit slit. The group is sometimes known as tuft moths, aft ...

** '' Nola cucullatella'' (short-cloaked moth) *

Notodontidae Notodontidae is a family of moths with approximately 3,800 known species. The family was described by James Francis Stephens in 1829. Moths of this family are found in all parts of the world, but they are most concentrated in tropical areas, espe ...

** '' Nadata gibbosa'' (rough prominent) ** ''

Phalera bucephala The buff-tip (''Phalera bucephala'') is a moth of the family Notodontidae. It is found throughout Europe and in Asia to eastern Siberia. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Descri ...

'' (buff-tip) ** '' Ptilodon capucina'' (coxcomb prominent) – recorded on bird cherry (''P. padus'') *

Nymphalidae The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...

** ''

Limenitis arthemis ''Limenitis arthemis,'' the red-spotted purple or white admiral, is a North American butterfly species in the cosmopolitan genus ''Limenitis''. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several stable hybrid wing patterns wi ...

'' (American white admiral/red-spotted purple) – prefers choke cherry (''

Prunus virginiana ''Prunus virginiana'', commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry (also black chokecherry for ''P. virginiana'' var. ''demissa''), is a species of bird cherry (''Prunus'' subgenus ''Padus'') nat ...

'') over pin cherry (''

Prunus pensylvanica ''Prunus pensylvanica'', also known as bird cherry, fire cherry, pin cherry, and red cherry, is a North American cherry species in the genus ''Prunus''. Description ''Prunus pensylvanica'' grows as a shrub or small tree, usually with a straigh ...

'') and black cherry (''P. serotina'') *

Oecophoridae Oecophoridae (concealer moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this. ...

** ''

Esperia oliviella ''Esperia oliviella'' is a species of gelechioid moth. Taxonomy In its superfamily, this species is placed in the genus '' Esperia'' within the subfamily Oecophorinae of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). Some authors, in particular t ...

'' – recorded in dead twigs of blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') *

Papilionidae Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the larg ...

** ''

Papilio glaucus ''Papilio glaucus'', the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in m ...

'' (eastern tiger swallowtail) – recorded on cherries ** '' Papilio multicaudata'' (two-tailed swallowtail) – recorded on choke cherries *

Saturniidae Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and gi ...

** ''

Automeris io ''Automeris io'', the Io moth () or peacock moth, is a colorful North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The io moth is also a member of the subfamily Hemileucinae. The name Io comes from Greek mythology in which Io was a mortal lover of ...

'' (Io moth) – recorded on pin cherry (''P. pensylvanica'') ** ''

Callosamia promethea ''Callosamia promethea'', commonly known as the promethea silkmoth, is a member of the family Saturniidae, which contains approximately 1,300 species. It is also known as the spicebush silkmoth, which refers to is one of the promethea silkmoth's ...

'' (promethea silkmoth) ** ''

Hyalophora cecropia ''Hyalophora cecropia'', the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches (160 mm) or more. These m ...

'' (cecropia moth) ** ''

Pavonia pavonia ''Saturnia pavonia'', the small emperor moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Sometimes, the incorrect genus name ''Pavonia'' is still used for this ...

'' (emperor moth) *

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, but ...

** '' Ceratomia amyntor'' (elm sphinx) – recorded on cherries ** ''

Mimas tiliae ''Mimas tiliae'', the lime hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East, and has also been identified in Canada's east and western provinces and in northern Spain (Europe). The speci ...

'' (lime hawk-moth) ** '' Smerinthus jamaicensis'' (twin-spotted sphinx) – recorded on

peach The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-f ...

(''P. persica''), plums and others *

Tortricidae The Tortricidae are a family of moths, commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, in the order Lepidoptera. This large family has over 11,000 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea, although the genus ...

** '' Enarmonia formosana'' (cherrybark tortrix) – recorded on bark of cherries ** ''

Epiphyas postvittana The light brown apple moth (''Epiphyas postvittana'') (often abbreviated to LBAM) is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae. Identification Adult moths Light brown apple moth adults are variable in colour and may b ...

'' (light brown apple moth) *

Yponomeutidae : ''Certain members of the unrelated snout moths (Pyralidae) are also known as "ermine moths." Spilosoma lubricipeda is an unrelated moth with the common name "white ermine."'' The family Yponomeutidae are known as the ermine moths, with several ...

** ''

Scythropia crataegella ''Scythropia crataegella'', the hawthorn moth, is a species of moth in the family Plutellidae from western Eurasia. It is usually placed in a small subfamily Scythropiinae, which is sometimes included in the Yponomeutinae of the Yponomeutidae ...

'' (hawthorn moth) – recorded on blackthorn (''P. spinosa'') and others

References

External links

*{{cite web , last1=Robinson , first1=Gaden S. , last2=Ackery , first2=Phillip R. , last3=Kitching , first3=Ian J. , last4=Beccaloni , first4=George W. , last5=Hernández , first5=Luis M. , name-list-style=amp , date=2010 , url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/list.dsml?&PGenus=Prunus&sort=Family , title=Hostplant Genus: ''Prunus'' , website=HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants , publisher=

Natural History Museum, London The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum an ...

+Lepidoptera