Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00055
Episimus unguiculus
Open this record in the interactive AtlasAbout Episimus unguiculus
Episimus unguiculus belongs to Tortricidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status is introduced.
Natural history and identification
Episimus unguiculus is a leaf-feeding moth associated with Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia. It was released in Hawaiʻi in the 1950s for biological control and became widely distributed on that plant. The reviewed account notes that establishment did not necessarily result in severe plant damage. Presence of the agent and effective suppression of its host are separate questions.
Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence
Atlas occurrence category: Present. The Kauaʻi record is classified as “Present”. Its cited evidence source is iNaturalist Kauaʻi checklist.
Account coverage
Published species details have been added. A complete Kauaʻi-specific account of identification, habitat, feeding, reproduction, and population trend is not yet established by the sources linked here.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Episimus unguiculus
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Episimus unguiculus belongs to Tortricidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status is introduced.