Herpetogramma sphingealis

Herpetogramma sphingealis is a small species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described as a new species in 2011.

Herpetogramma sphingealis
Male
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Herpetogramma
Species:
H. sphingealis
Binomial name
Herpetogramma sphingealis
L. Handfield & D. Handfield, 2011

Taxonomy

Herpetogramma sphingealis was described by Louis Handfield and Daniel Handfield in 2011.[1]

Etymology

The Latin name sphingealis refers to the sphingid-like appearance of the males.[1]

Description

The underside of the head, thorax and abdomen, including the legs, are pure white, so it is easily spotted when flying towards a light trap.[1]

Imagoes, adult moths, are sexually dimorphic. The wingspan is 34–37 mm for males and 31–34 mm for females. Males are nearly uniform dark brown. The hind-wings are dark brown with a dark discal spot. Females have more apically-squared wings and are less uniformly dark coloured.[1]

Distribution

It is found from southern Quebec southward in eastern United States to Georgia and Louisiana and as far west as Arkansas.[1]

Ecology

Behaviour

The moth is readily attracted to light traps and flies around at the beginning of the night. It is sometimes one of the first species to come to a light trap. Its flight is darting and rapid.[1]

The caterpillars have been recorded feeding on Polystichum acrostichoides and might also feed on other species of ferns. They roll the fronds of their host plant.[1]

Habitat

It occurs in the darkest areas of rich xeric forests, with maples and oaks, especially rocky, hilly, maple groves where Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly occurs. With its dark-brown colour the moth is cryptically coloured in its natural habitat and well adapted to hide in the darkest shadows of the woods.[1]

References
  1. Handfield, Louis; Handfield, Daniel (November 24, 2011). "A new species of Herpetogramma (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae) from eastern North America". ZooKeys (149): 5–15. doi:10.3897/zookeys.149.2344. PMC 3234405. PMID 22207790.


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