Helcystogramma convolvuli explained

Helcystogramma convolvuli, the sweet potato moth, sweetpotato webworm moth, sweetpotato leaf roller or black leaf folder, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is mainly found in Asia and Africa, but there are also records from Oceania, the Middle East, the Caribbean^[1] and Florida in the United States.^[2] The species is also found on the Canary Islands and Madeira.

The wingspan is 13–15 mm. The forewings are dark tawny fuscous. The hindwings are brownish grey.^[3]

The larvae feed on Convolvulaceae species, including Ipomoea batatas, Convolvulus arvensis, Merremia quinquefolia, Ipomoea aquatica, Ipomoea cairica and Ipomoea alba.^[4]

Notes and References

1. http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/plantHealth/pestsDiseases/documents/Helcystog.pdf CSL Pest risk analysis for Helcystogramma convolvuli
2. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2265.1 mothphotographersgroup
3. http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Helcystogramma_Convolvuli lepiforum.de
4. https://islandbiodiversity.com/Phelsuma28h.pdf Bippus, M., 2020. Records of Lepidoptera from the Malagasy region with description of new species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Noctuidae, Alucitidae, Choreutidae, Euteliidae, Gelechiidae, Blastobasidae, Pterophoridae, Tonzidae, Tineidae, Praydidae, Cosmopterigidae, Batrachedridae). - Phelsuma 28: 60-100