List of Lepidoptera that feed on oaks

Oaks, Quercus spp., are used as food plants by the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species:

Monophagous

Species which feed exclusively on Quercus

• Bucculatricidae
  • Several Bucculatrix leaf-miner species:
    • B. ainsliella
    • B. albertiella
    • B. amiculella
    • B. cerina
    • B. domicola – only on Pin Oak (Q. palustris)
    • B. litigiosella
    • B. luteella – only on White Oak (Q. alba)
    • B. ochrisuffusa – only on White Oak (Q. alba)
    • B. recognita – only on Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa)
    • B. zophopasta – only on Garry Oak (Q. garryana)
• Gelechiidae
  • Several Chionodes spp.:
    • C. acrina
    • C. bicostomaculella
    • C. chrysopyla
    • C. formosella – only on Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) and some others
    • C. fuscomaculella
    • C. gilvomaculella
    • C. pereyra
    • C. petalumensis – only on Garry Oak (Q. garryana) and Valley Oak (Q. lobata)
    • C. raspyon
    • C. trichostola
    • C. trophella
    • C. vanduzeei – only on Coast Live Oak (Q. agrifolia)
• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. bipennella
    • C. discostriata
    • C. levantis
    • C. melanograpta
    • C. quercicola – only on Mongolian Oak (Q. mongolica)
    • C. querciella
• Geometridae
  • Comibaena bajularia (Blotched Emerald)
• Noctuidae
  • Catocala amica (Girlfriend Underwing) – possibly restricted to section Lobatae and section Quercus
• Notodontidae
  • Phryganidia californica (California Oak Moth) – only on Coast Live Oak (Q. agrifolia) and some others

Polyphagous

Species which feed on Quercus and other plants

• Arctiidae
  • Eilema lurideola (Common Footman)
  • Spilosoma luteum (Buff Ermine)
• Bucculatricidae
  • Several Bucculatrix leaf-miner species:
    • B. packardella
    • B. quinquenotella – recorded on Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra)
    • B. trifasciella – recorded on Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra)
    • B. ulmella
• Coleophoridae
  • Several Coleophora case-bearer species:
    • C. albovanescens
    • C. anatipennella
    • C. atromarginata
    • C. currucipennella
    • C. flavipennella
    • C. ibipennella
    • C. lutipennella
    • C. palliatella
    • C. serratella – recorded on Interior Live Oak (Q. wislizenii)
• Drepanidae
  • Drepana binaria (Oak Hook-tip)
• Gelechiidae
  • Chionodes occidentella
• Geometridae
  • Agriopis marginaria (Dotted Border)
  • Alcis repandata (Mottled Beauty)
  • Cabera pusaria (Common White Wave)
  • Campaea margaritata (Light Emerald)
  • Campaea perlata (Pale Beauty)
  • Colotois pennaria (Feathered Thorn)
  • Ectropis crepuscularia (The Engrailed)
  • Epirrita autumnata (Autumnal Moth)
  • Epirrita christyi (Pale November Moth)
  • Epirrita dilutata (November Moth)
  • Erannis defoliaria (Mottled Umber)
  • Hemithea aestivaria (Common Emerald)
  • Idaea biselata (Small Fan-footed Wave)
  • Odontopera bidentata (Scalloped Hazel)
  • Operophtera brumata (Winter Moth)
  • Selenia tetralunaria (Purple Thorn)
• Hepialidae
  • Endoclita excrescens
  • Endoclita sinensis
  • Hepialus humuli (Ghost Moth)
• Lymantriidae
  • Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Brown-tail)
  • Euproctis similis (Yellow-tail)
  • Lymantria dispar (Gypsy Moth)
• Noctuidae
  • Acronicta aceris (The Sycamore) – recorded on Pedunculate Oak (Q. robur)
  • Acronicta leporina (The Miller)
  • Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)
  • Agrotis exclamationis (Heart and Dart)
  • Amphipyra berbera (Svensson's Copper Underwing)
  • Amphipyra pyramidea (Copper Underwing)
  • Amphipyra tragopoginis (Mouse Moth)
  • Catocala delilah (Delilah Underwing) – recorded on Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Gambel Oak (Q. gambeli) and perhaps others
  • Cosmia trapezina (The Dun-bar)
  • Euplexia lucipara (Small Angle Shades)
  • Eupsilia transversa (The Satellite)
  • Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth) – recorded on Holm Oak (Q. ilex)
  • Orthosia cerasi (Common Quaker)
  • Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
  • Panolis flammea (Pine Beauty)
  • Phlogophora meticulosa (Angle Shades)
  • Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic)
• Notodontidae
  • Nadata gibbosa (Rough Prominent)
  • Phalera bucephala (Buff-tip)
  • Ptilodon capucina (Coxcomb Prominent) – recorded on Pedunculate Oak (Q. robur)
• Oecophoridae
  • Esperia oliviella – recorded in dead twigs of oaks
• Pyralidae
  • Endotricha flammealis
• Saturniidae
  • Automeris io (Io Moth)
  • Pavonia pavonia (Emperor Moth)
• Sphingidae
  • Mimas tiliae (Lime Hawk-moth)
• Thaumetopoeidae
  • Thaumetopoea processionea (Oak Processionary)
• Tortricidae
  • Syndemis musculana

External links

• Caterpillar Hostplants Database