Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00331
Hellinsia beneficus
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About Hellinsia beneficus
Hellinsia beneficus is a plume moth introduced to Hawaiʻi against Ageratina riparia.
Natural history and identification
Hellinsia beneficus is a plume moth introduced to Hawaiʻi against Ageratina riparia. Older records use Oidaematophorus or Leioptilus. The modern paper reports a Kauaʻi specimen from the upper Hanalei Valley, while noting that the authors found no documented deliberate release on Kauaʻi. Thus establishment on the island and a known island-specific release are separate claims. The host association concerns the caterpillar; the slender, divided wings are adult characters.
Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence
Atlas occurrence category: Present. First Kauaʻi record reported in 2023.
Evidence limits
The cited observations describe the evidence currently available for this account. They do not establish a complete life history or a measured current Kauaʻi population trend.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Hellinsia beneficus
- Family
- Pterophoridae
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Hellinsia beneficus is a plume moth introduced to Hawaiʻi against Ageratina riparia.