HOP-HORNBEAM (Ostrya virginiana)
Hop-hornbeam, a member of the Birch family, hosts a diverse array of moths, with 413 species recorded to use it. The fruit of the American Hop-hornbeam consists of small, woody nutlets enclosed in papery bracts resembling hop cones, earning it the common name “hop-hornbeam.” These nutlets serve as a food source for various wildlife species, including birds and small mammals.
Hop-hornbeam itself supports more than 17 moth species. Among them are creatures with intriguing names such as Colorful and Hazel Zale, Variegated Snout, Eyed Baileya, Pleasant Dagger, Pale Green and Bethune’s Pinions, Pettit’s Sallow, Ruby Quaker, Norman’s and Intractable Quakers, Bicolored Woodgrain, and Fluid Arches, highlighting the rich biodiversity associated with this single species.
