o .eg an Jo of En1tomol0lD' - Norsk entomologisk forening

( Short communiCatiOns)
THE FUNGIVOROUS MOTH SCARDIA
POLYPORI (ESPER) (LEPIDOPTERA,
TINEIDAE) NEW TO NORWAY
LEIF AARVIK & FRED MIDTGAARD
The moth Scardia polypori (Esper) is recorded new to
Norway. Several specimens were reared from the
fungus Fomesfomentarius (L. ex Fr.) Kickx. growing
on birch logs at Noresund in Buskerud. Remarks on
distribution and a brief diagnosis of the species are given.
Leif Aarvik, Tarnveien 6, N-1430 As, Norway. Fred
Midtgaard, Norwegian Forest Research Institute,
p.a. Box 61, N-1432 As-NLH, Norway.
Members of the family Tineidae feed on different
kinds of dead matter like wool, feather, fur,
and rotting wood. However, many species of
the subfamilies Scardiinae and Nemapogoninae
have specialized in feeding on fungi.
One of the most striking fungivorous tineids is
Scardia polypori (Esper) which is herewith reported
new to Norway.
Fungi containing larvae of S. polypori were
collected from birch logs at Noresund, Kf0dsherad,
B0 (EIS 35) on 21.11.1981. The logs which
measured 20-60 cm. in diameter were heavily
• infested with the fungus Fomes fomentarius (L.
ex. Fr.) Kickx.
The green larvae of S. polypori were not only
utilizing the fungi, but were.also seen feeding on
the rotting wood. During 1981 4 d d and
2 9 9 were rellred. Several specimens of A rchinemapogon
laterellus (Thunberg) which is anot­
• her fungivorous tineid also emerged. In addition
the beetle Bolitophagus reticulatus (L.) was reared
from the fungi.
S. polypori is the largest representative of the
Tineidae in our fauna. The expanse of our specimens
is 43-46 mm. Its size and characteristic
wing pattern makes S. polypori an unmistakable
species. The forewings are blackish brown except
along dorsum and termen where the ground
colour is pale yellow with small dark markings.
S. polypori occurs in Sweden and Finland but
is absent from Denmark. In Sweden it has been
recorded from nine provinces from Skilne north
Fig. I. Scardia polypori from Noresund.
to Halsingland (Benander 1946, Svensson 1976,
1977, 1981), and in Finland from ten provinces
ranging from the south coast to the provinces
Savonia borealis and Karelia borealis (Kyrki
1978, 1979). Otherwise S. polypori has been found
in central Europe including Bavaria, Hungary,
Austria, and the USSR. In central Europe it
is a mountain species (Hannemann 1977).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to than Mr. Tor Gulliksen for taking
the photograph.
REFERENCES
Benander, P. 1946. Forteckning over Sveriges smafjarilar
Catalogus Insectorum Sueciae. VI. Microlepidoptera.
Opusc. ent. I I, 1-82.
Hannemann, HJ. 1977. K1einschmetterlinge oder
Microlepidoptera Ill. Federmotten (Pterophoridae),
Gespinstmotten (Yponomeutidae), Echte
Motten (Tineidae). Tierw. Dtl. 63. 275 pp.
Kyrki, J. 1978. Suomen pikkuperhosten levinneisyys.
I. Notul. ent. 58, 37-67.
Kyrki, J. 1979. Suomen pikkuperhosten levinneisyys.
11. Notul. ent. 59, 125-131.
Svensson, I. 1976. Anmiirkningsviirda fynd av Microlepidoptera
i Sverige 1975. Ent. Tidskr.. 97,
124-134.
Svensson, I. 1977. Anmiirkningsvarda fynd av Microlepidoptera
i Sverige 1976. Ent. Tidskr. 98,
37-43.
Svensson, I. 1981. Anmiirkningsviirda fynd av Microlepidoptera
i Sverige 1980. Ent. Tidskr. 102,
83-97.
Received 2 Apr. 1982.
Fauna norv. Ser. B 29.. 135. Oslo 1982. 135