Neuranethes spodopterodes

{{Speciesbox | name = | image = Neuranethes spodopterodes IMG 7016s.JPG | image_caption = ''Neuranethes spodopterodes'' (Hampson, 1908), comb. nov. Female, dorsal aspect | image2 = | taxon = Neuranethes spodopterodes | authority = (Hampson, 1908) | synonyms = *''Sidemia spodopterodes'' <small>Hampson 1908</small> }} thumb|left|''Neuranethes spodopterodes'' lateral aspect left|thumb|Pupa of ''Neuranethes spodopterodes'' thumb|left|''Neuranethes spodopterodes'' larva in tunnel thumb|Neuranethes spodopterodes wing venation left|thumb|Adult ''Neuranethes spodopterodes'' have vestigial mouthparts

'''''Neuranethes spodopterodes''''' is a moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Hadeninae.<ref>Hampson, G.F. 1908. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum, Volume 7. Taylor & Francis, London</ref>

Although it was described at the start of the 20th century, the moth and its habits were little known. It turns out that the adults have vestigial mouthparts and do not feed before they die, but the larvae fed on species of ''Agapanthus''.

However, although the larvae are voracious feeders, the species seems to have done so little harm as to have escaped notice, presumably because of natural control by parasitoids. Early in the 21st century however, it emerged as a serious horticultural pest of popular species of Agapanthus in regions where neither the moth nor the plants occurred spontaneously.

It seems that the moth had been translocated accidentally in horticultural stock and that the natural enemies had not been imported at the same time. Its very voracity combined with its monophagous feeding habits have however suggested that it might prove to be a valuable biological control of invasive ''Agapanthus'' in countries such as New Zealand.<ref>M.D. Picker and M. Krüger. Spread and Impacts of the Agapanthus Borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes (Hampson, 1908), comb. nov.), a Translocated Native Moth Species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). African Entomology 2013 21 (1), 172-176</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Hadeninae Category:Lepidoptera used as pest control agents Category:Moths described in 1908 Category:Taxa named by George Hampson