About Laetilia coccidivora Comstock, 1879
Laetilia coccidivora, commonly known as the scale-feeding snout moth, is a species of snout moth belonging to the genus Laetilia. The species was described by John Henry Comstock in 1879. It is found across the southern United States, with recorded presences in California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia. The wingspan of adult Laetilia coccidivora ranges from 10 to 17 mm. The larvae of this species are predatory, preying on members of the Coccidae family; specifically, they feed on coccid eggs and young individuals. This moth obtains carminic acid from its prey, and uses this compound as a defense against its own predators.
