Whitelined Sphinx Moth Larvae on Rangeland Vegetation

Abstract

Larvae of whitelined sphinx [Hyles lineata (Fab.)] caused heavy defoliation and other injury to several species of range plants in a newly seeded stand of brome grass [Bromus inermis Leyss.] near Lakin, Kearny County, Kansas. Although larvae of this species are rather general feeders on broadleafed plants, they had a sequence of preference and completely ignored the brome grass. Species commonly eaten included prairie evening-primrose [Oenothera albicaulis (Pursh)] and spotted beebalm [Monarda punctata L.]. It is conjectured that feeding by whitelined sphinx larvae may sometimes influence the composition of range plant communities on the short grass prairie of the North American Great Plains.