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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Cossidae
53a0029 – 2693   Prionoxystus robiniae (Peck, 1818)
             Carpenterworm

© Nolie Schneider
Larva and
Host Plants:
Host familiy: Asteraceae Cannabaceae[Ulmaceae] Fabaceae Fagaceae Juglandaceae Moraceae Oleaceae Platanaceae Rosace..  Host genera: Acer Baccharis Carya Castanea Celtis Ficus Fraxinus Platanus Populus Prunus Pyrus Quercus Robinia Sa...  Host extended: have been recorded feeding on more than 125 plant species (Powell & Opler 2009); Polyphagous on tree...  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • robiniae (Peck, 1818) (Cossus) - MONA 1983: 2693
  • ssp. a. robiniae (Peck, 1818) (Cossus)
  • crepera (Harris, 1834) (Cossus)
  • crepera (Packard, 1864) (Xyleutes)
  • plagiatus (Walker, 1856) (Cossus)
  • querciperda (Packard, 1864) (Xyleutes)
  • quercus Ehrmann, 1893 (Prionoxystus)
  • reticulatus (Lintner, 1878) (Cossus)
  • robinae; Barnes & McDunnough, 1911 (Prionxystus [sic]) missp.; TL: (no type).
  • ssp. b. zabolicus (Strecker, 1898) (Cossus)
  • ssp. c. mixtus Barnes & Benjamin, 1923 (Prionoxystus)
  • flavotinctus Barnes & Benjamin, 1923 (Prionoxystus)
  • subnigrus Barnes & Benjamin, 1923 (Prionoxystus)
  • References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
    • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
    • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 13.15m, 13.16f; p. 127. Book Review and ordering
    • Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum
    • Species Page at Mass Moths
    • Species Page at iNaturalist
    • Species page at Moths of North Dakota.
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Bob Patterson
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © D. Lynn Scott
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Bob Patterson
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Carroll Rudy - f.
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © John Himmelman
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Matthew Priebe
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Maury Heiman - m.
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Mark Dreiling
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Carol Wolf
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    CalPhotos – © Jerry Powell
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    CalPhotos – © Jerry Powell
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    - 50mm – © Jim Vargo
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    - 50mm – © Jim Vargo
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Machele White

    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Carroll Rudy
    1st instar
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Carroll Rudy
    eggs
    Prionoxystus robiniae
    © Carl Barrentine


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