The cacao plume moth in Honduras (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)

Observations on the life history of the Cacao Plume Moth, Michaelophorus nubilus (Felder & Rogenhofer) in Honduras are presented along with illustrations and diagnostic features of the adults, larvae, and pupae. This species was previously unrecorded from Honduras and is one of several new records for the family resulting from a cooperative biodiversity study of the Lepidoptera of Honduras. Larvae are pests of Theobroma cacao Linneaus and feed on developing leaves and occasionally flowers. Cacao beans, harvested from the mature pods of these trees, are the source of cocoa powder for chocolate products. While the impact on pod production of mature trees is minimal, substantial damage to leaves of seedling plants is a concern for nursery growers. The identity, recognition characters, and distribution of these small moths are of interest, not only as pest species, but as a natural associate of a plant of both economic and cultural significance.