Carpenterworm Moth

Description:

The wingspan is 43-85 mm. Adults are on wing from May to July depending on the location. The larvae feed on locust, oak, chestnut, poplar, willow, maple and ash. The species is considered a pest, because the tunnels the larvae create decrease the value of hardwood lumber.

Habitat:

The Carpenterworm Moth or Locust Borer (Prionoxystus robiniae) is a moth of the Cossidae family. It is found in North America, more specifically in Southern Canada and most of the United States.

Notes:

The family Cossidae, the cossid miller or carpenter miller, make up a family of mostly large millers. Ths family contains over 110 genera with almost 700 known species, and many more species await description. Carpenter millers are nocturnal Lepidoptera found worldwide, except the Southeast Asian subfamily Ratardinae which is mostly active during the day. Witchetty grubs of the Zeuzerinae Endoxyla leucomochla This family includes many species with large caterpillars and moths with a wingspan from 9-24 cm (6¾ in). These moths are mostly grey in color; some have long narrow wings and resemble hawkmoths (Sphingidae) which are more advanced Macrolepidoptera however. Many are twig, bark or leaf mimics, and Cossidae often have some sort of large marking at the tip of the forewing uppersides, conspicuous in flight but resembling a broken-off twig when the animals are resting. Most cossid caterpillars are tree borers, in some species taking up to three years to mature. The caterpillars pupate within their tunnels; they often have an unpleasant smell, hence another colloquial name is goat moths.