Paysandisia archon
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
Paysandisia archon (Burmeister 1880) - (palm borer moth)
This large butterfly-like moth is found in parts of South America. It has invaded the Mediterranean region, being first recorded from France in 2001. It has since spread to Spain in the west and up to southern parts of Russia in the east. It breeds in a large variety of palm trees, where the larvae mine the base of the fronds and the upper stem. Damage is often not visible from the outside, but feeding damage of the larvae can result in a twisting of the trunk, drying up of the youngest inner fronds, up to wilting and death of the whole palm.
The female moths lay their eggs on the fibres around the base of the palm fronds and the emerging larvae tunnel into the trunk and the base of the fronds (Anonymous, 2008). The larvae pupate in their galleries and the adults emerge in spring. The larvae overwinter in the palms and the whole life cycle might extend over more than one year.
The moths fly during the day. Females have a wingspan of 7-10 cm with males being slightly smaller. The forewings are greenish grey and the hindwings are red with black and white marks (see illustration on the leaft).
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • English: | palm borer moth |
| • Français: | papillon du palmier |
