Ebenaceae - Ecology

Ecology

An economically significant plant pathogen infecting many Diospyros species – D. hispida, Kaki Persimmon (D. kaki), Date-plum (D. lotus), Texas Persimmon (D. texana), Coromandel Ebony (D. melanoxylon) and probably others – is the sac fungus Pseudocercospora kaki, which causes a leaf spot disease. The foliage is used as food by the larvae of numerous Lepidoptera species:

Arctiidae:

• Eupseudosoma aberrans
• Eupseudosoma involutum (Snowy Eupseudosoma)
• Hypercompe indecisa

Geometridae:

• Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) – recorded on persimmons

Limacodidae:

• Monema flavescens

Lycaenidae:

• Neopithecops zalmora (Quaker)

Nymphalidae:

• Charaxes khasianus (Kihansi Charaxes) – recorded on D. natalensis
• Dophla evelina (Redspot Duke) – recorded on D. candolleana

Saturniidae:

• Actias luna (Luna Moth) – recorded on persimmons
• Callosamia promethea (Promethea Silkmoth) – recorded on persimmons
• Citheronia regalis (Regal Moth) – recorded on American Persimmon (D. virginiana)

Tortricidae:

• "Cnephasia" jactatana (Black-lyre Leafroller Moth)