Fun Genista Broom Moth Facts For Kids

If you have a false indigo plant in your garden, then you must have seen a Genista broom moth (Uresiphita reversalis). They are teeny tiny creatures that are most often seen in the gardens around false indigo plants. The Genista broom moth (Uresiphita reversalis), also known as Sophora worm, is a small moth that belongs to the family of crambidae. Uresiphita reversalis are mostly found in North America in regions across North Carolina, Florida, California, Texas as well as some other parts of the world. Sometimes a silk coating is discovered on them.

Curious to know more about this pest species? Here are some fun, engaging, and interesting facts that will make you keener about this moth. Afterward, do check our other articles on the fairy moth and ailanthus webworm moth as well.

‍

What type of animal is a Genista broom moth?

Genista broom moth is a moth species that belongs to the Lepidoptera order. They are also known as sophora worms or genista caterpillars. They're generally brown or black in color. Their populations can expand within a short period of time. Genista broom moths can become invasive and damage plants in gardens, especially the false indigo plant.

What class of animal does a Genista broom moth belong to?

Genista broom moth is a moth that belongs to the insecta class. They come under the Lepidoptera order of the crambidae family. Their scientific name is Uresiphita reversalis. They are also known as sophora worms or genista caterpillars.

How many Genista broom moths are there in the world?

There is no accurate and rough estimate of the total number of Genista broom moths in the world. They are very common and are abundantly found in their range across North Carolina, Florida, California, and Texas.

Where does a Genista broom moth live?

Genista broom moths are found mostly in gardens and other habitats. Genista broom moth caterpillars can be mostly found in North America; west to California, Nebraska, Iowa, Florida, and Colorado. They are also seen in other parts of the world like Cuba, Bermuda, Mexico, and Jamaica.

What is a Genista broom moth's habitat?

Genista broom moths are found in urban areas and also in gardens of houses around plants. They are invasive species and cause damage to plants as they feed on various plant types, especially the false indigo plant.

Who do Genista broom moths live with?

Genista broom moths are often seen roaming around plants but mostly as a single individual due to their shy nature.

How long does a Genista broom moth live?

A Genista broom moth's life cycle completes in around 65-90 days. It may vary depending on its habitat and diet.

How do they reproduce?

Genista broom moths lay about 70 eggs during the breeding season which are in batches. Genista broom moths use sound in order to communicate sexually. Tiny larvae are born after the eggs hatch and are green in color. Genista broom moths can have around two generations in a year.

What is their conservation status?

Genista broom moth caterpillars are not evaluated on the IUCN Red List. They are common species and can expand their population within a short period of time. Hence, these moths do not face any extinction threat and their population is steady across the habitat.

What do Genista broom moths look like?

Genista broom moths is a small moth that belongs to the crambidae family. They are brown or black or orange in color that has a dark spot on their hind wings. The hind wings of the Genista broom moth are yellow or orange in color. Genista caterpillars are green in color with black spots and there are some yellow spots on each segment and their head is black with white spots. Sometimes these caterpillars are hairy with white hairs.

How cute are they?

Genista broom moths are a very tiny and invasive species. Even the Genista broom moth larvae are not cute in appearance.

How do they communicate?

Genista broom moths use sounds to communicate with each other. They make sounds for communicating sexually.

How big is a Genista broom moth?

Genista broom moths are small moths and have a length of around 0.74-0.86 in (18.7-21.8 mm).

How fast can Genista broom moths fly?

Genista broom moths have an average speed of around 33 mph (53 kph) while moving around from plant to plant.

How much does a Genista broom moth weigh?

Genista broom moths are extremely lightweight creatures and there is no accurate measurement of their weight available as of now.

What are the male and female names of the species?

As a Genista broom moth is a moth, its species is U. reversalis. The male Genista broom moth and female Genista broom moth are the names assigned to the Genista broom moth caterpillar.

What would you call a baby Genista broom moth?

A baby Genista broom moth is called a caterpillar or larvae.

What do they eat?

Genista broom moths are herbivores. They usually feed on Acacia, brooms of many kinds, Scotch broom, Texas mountain laurel, Baptisia, and honeysuckles.

The main predators of Genista broom moths are lizards, spiders, bats, beetles, wasps, ants, and other insectivores.

Are they dangerous?

Genista caterpillars store alkaloids that they obtain from their host plants. This can be toxic and harmful to other insects and small animals.

Would they make a good pet?

Genista broom moths are not suitable for keeping a pet. They can cause damage to the plants and defoliate trees and can become invasive.

Did you know...

Genista broom moths in large numbers can seriously damage a plant whereas when they are in small numbers, they cannot cause permanent damage.

Genista broom moth caterpillars

Genista broom moth caterpillars usually feed on Lonicera, Baptisia, Genista, Acacia, and Lupinus species. The caterpillars are born from white cream eggs. They usually are in the pupal stage during the winters, which grow into moths in spring and start feeding and mating in the summer season.

How to get rid of Genista broom moths

Genista broom moths can be removed completely by cutting the affected foliage, or by plucking the caterpillars from the leaves. They can be also removed by spraying B.t (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is bacteria used to kill the caterpillars.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these poodle moth facts and buck moth facts pages.  

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Genista Broom Moth coloring pages.