First reports of non-phytophagous Nearctic chrysaugine moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Authors

James E. Hayden, Florida State Collection of ArthropodsFollow
Lyle J. Buss, University of FloridaFollow
Kyle E. Schnepp, FDACS Division of Plant IndustryFollow
Lei Xiao, University of FloridaFollow

Date of this Version

5-26-2017

Citation

Insecta Mundi 0553: 1–8.

Comments

Published in 2017 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P. O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 USA http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/

Copyright held by the author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License.

Abstract

Coprophagy and probable saprophagy are reported for larvae of two species of chrysaugine moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Larvae of Parachma ochracealis Walker are found in rotten pine wood and mulch in North-Central Florida. Larvae of Basacallis tarachodes (Dyar) inhabit feces of an unidentifi ed small mammal in a cave in Central Florida and seem to be troglophilic. These behaviors are compared to similar ones in Neotropical chrysaugines such as Humiphila Becker and Cryptoses Dyar. Saprophagy and coprophagy are predicted to be more general habits among Chrysauginae.