Fundella pellucens
Fundella pellucens, the Caribbean pod borer, is a species of snout moth in the genus Fundella. It was described by Zeller in 1848.
Description
Fundella pellucens has a wingspan of about. Its forewings are dark grey and its hindwings are creamy white with darker margins.
The larvae range from in length and are wide. The entire larva ranges in color from yellowish-white to brown.
The pupa of the moth ranges from in length and in width. The pupa ranges in color from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown.
Range
It is found in Florida, Barbados, Haiti, Cuba, Montserrat, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Bolivia.
Ecology
The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Vigna luteola, Canavalia ensiformis, Canavalia maritima, Cajan cajan, Phaseolus species and Cassia occidentalis. Young larvae may initially feed on the flowers and continue feeding on immature legumes when they get older. There is also evidence that larvae may complete their entire development on the legumes only. They bore into the pods of their host plant and feed on the seeds. At times, legumes may be bound together with silk to form a shelter. Pupation takes place in the soil within a silk cocoon.