Herpetogramma paper.cwk (WP) - Calodema

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Calodema, 145: 1-5 (2011)T.J. Hawkeswood- Herpetogrammacreeklines.C. Host plant of H. cynaralisStephania japonica var. discolor (Menispermaceae) is a scrambling vine with heart-shaped, peltate leaves, the flowersare small and greenish, arranged in axillary compound umbels; the species flowers during summer and later plantsproduce shiny yellow and red fruits measuring about 5-10 mm wide. The vine occurs commonly in rainforests andsheltered gullies, especially near the sea.DiscussionA. Larval food plants of Herpetogramma speciesPreviously nothing appears to have been recorded on the biology and host plants of this obscurelittle native moth, H. cynaralis. However, related species are serious pests of agricultural plantsand for this reason knowledge of others in the genus can be insightful. The best known species ofthe genus is H. licarsisalis (Walker), commonly known as the tropical grass webworm, which hasan extensive global distribution nowadays. It is widely distributed in northern Australia, south-eastAsia, Pacific Islands such as New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, Japan, Hawaii (but notcontinental USA) as well as central and northern Africa (e.g. Tweedie, 1933; Delobel &Gutieerez, 1981; Common, 1990; Tashiro, 1976; Barrion & Litsinger, 1987; Smithers, 1998;Hardwick et al., 2000; Willoughby & Barns, 2002). This species was also recorded as a recentintroduction to the Maltese Islands by Sammut (2005). Recently extensive populations have beenrecorded in southern Spain (Goater & Knill Jones, 1999) and a single adult specimen has beenrecorded on the Isle of Wight (Goater & Knill Jones, 1999) indicating its continued expansionover the globe. Herpetogramma licarsisalis is an important pest of pastures and amenity turf inthe tropics where larvae feed on the leaves and crowns of a wide range of grass species includingPennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov., Paspalum dilatatum Poiret, Cynodon dactylon (L.)Pers., Lolium perenne L. and Lolium multidflorum Lam., Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae)(e.g. Davis,1968; Reinert, 1976; Tashiro, 1976; Murdoch & Tashiro, 1976; Murdoch & Mitchell, 1978;Grant, 1982; Tashiro et al., 1983; Barrion & Litsinger, 1987; Ward, 1997; Hardwick et al., 2000;Jenson & Cameron, 2004). Similarly, another closely related species, H. phaeopteralis Guenee isan annual pest of turfgrass in the southern States of the USA and many islands in the Caribbean.Its hosts include Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kunze, Cynodon spp., Zoysia spp.,Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack., Axonopus compressus (Swartz) Beauv. and Paspalumnotatum Flüggé (e.g. Reinert & Busey, 1983; Reinert, 2008). Yet another species, H. bipunctalis(Fabricius) from Africa is a pest of Amaranthus spp. (Amaranthaceae)(e.g. Tingle et al., 1978;Agunloye & Osisanya, 1985 - as Psara) but it is also recorded from a wide range of otherdicotyledonous plant species e.g. Brassica sp. (Brassicaceae), Capsicum sp. and Solanum nigrumL. (Solanaceae) and Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae)(Solis, 2006) as well as monocotyledonousplants, e.g. Xanthosoma spp., (Araceae) and Asparagus sp.(Asparagaceae)(Solis, 2006).Herpetogramma basalis (Walker) has been recorded recently [as Psara] on Spinacia oleracea L.(Chenopodiaceae) in India (Rajesh et al., 2008). As regards H. stultalis (Walker), this species hasbeen recorded as feeding as larvae on Alternanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae) and Coleus sp.(sic)[Solenostemon sp.] (Lamiaceae) in Fiji (Hinckley, 1964). Two other Herpetogrammaspecies are known to feed on ferns in the larval stage, viz. H. theseusalis (Walker) on Onocleasensibilis L. (Dryopteridaceae) and Thelypteris palustris Schott. (Thelypteridaceae)(Morse,2009), and H. aeglealis (Walker) on Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott(Aspidiaceae)(Ruelmann et al., 1988). Herpetogramma sp. near H. licarsisalis was found to be acommon feeder on Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae) in Papua New Guinea (Novotny et al., 2003).As far as I am aware, after reviewing the literature on larval hosts of this group, theMenispermaceae have not been recorded previously for any Herpetogramma species, however itis interesting to note that moths of the family Noctuidae especially of the genus Eudocima (=Othreis) are known to feed extensively on Stephania japonica and its varieties in the larval stagePage 2
Calodema, 145: 1-5 (2011)T.J. Hawkeswood- Herpetogrammain Australia and south-east Asia (e.g. Sands et al., 1991; Muniappan et al., 1994; Fay, 1994,1996; Bhumannavar & Viraktamath, 2001; Reddy et al., 2005, 2006).B. Parasites of Herpetogramma speciesA wide range of Hymenoptera are known to parasitize the larvae/pupae of Herpetogrammaspecies. Concerning H. stultalis (Walker), Hinckley (1964) recorded Apanteles sp., Chelonus sp.(Braconidae) and Trathala flavoorbitalis Cameron (Ichneumonidae) as larval parasites of thisspecies in Fiji, while Verma et al. (2002) recorded Elasmus brevicornis Gahan (Eulophidae) as aparasite of this species in Malaysia. Morse (2009) recorded Alabagrus texanus Cresson(Braconidae) as a common parasitoid of H. theseusalis (Walker) in the USA. Tingle et al. (1978)recorded Chelonus texanus Cresson (Braconidae) as a parasite of H. bipunctalis (Fabricius) inFlorida, USA. Davis (1968) noted that the foremost of the parasites of H. licarsisalis at Hawaiiwas the tiny Trichogramma semifumatum (Perkins)(Trichogrammatidae) which parasitized up to96% of the eggs of this species; other parasites of the larvae were Casinaria infesta (Cresson),Cremastus flavoorbitalis (Cameron)(both Ichneumonidae), Meteorus laphygamae Viereck(Braconidae) and Eucelatoria armigera (Coq.)(Tachinidae: Diptera). The record ofTrichogramma wasps emerging from pupae of H. cynaralis at Brisbane is therefore of someinterest as it is in accordance with the findings of Davis (1968).C. Notes on life stagesIt is interesting to note the differences between the larval coloration and size of H. cynaralis andthe most common species, H. licarsisalis. The latter species has larvae which are variably brownto green in coloration with sometimes a rose tint over part or most of the abdomen. When fullygrown the larvae averaged 20 mm in length with a head capsule of 1.8 mm diameter (Tashiro,1976). According to my observations, H. cynaralis larvae possess a black head capsule, a blackthorax with two black-brown spots on the thorax and an abdomen of a dull yellow coloration;body length of two larvae were 12.2 and 12.0 mm and head capsule width were 1.35 mm and 1.3mm respectively.Further observations on the earlier life stages are necessary to determine if H. cynaralis should beplaced in another genus based on differing morphology and food plant preferences or retained inthe genus Herpetogramma.AcknowledgementsThanks are expressed to Mr Kelvyn L. Dunn of Victoria, for kindly commenting on this paper before publication. Iwould also like to thank Dr F.R. Wylie of the Queensland Forestry Institute (QFI), Indooroopilly, Queensland,Australia and the late Mr M. De Baar, formerly of the same institution, for allowing access to microscopes and to theinsect collection under their care during my studies in Brisbane during the 1980’s. My material of H. cynaralis wascompared with named specimens in the collection of the QFI.ReferencesAgunloye, O. & Osisanya, E.O. (1985). Pirimiphos-methyl in the control of Psara bipunctalis F. on Amaranthuscruentus in Southern Nigeria. International Journal of Pest Management, 31: 196-198.Barrion, A.T. & Litsinger, J.A. (1987). Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): a new pest oflowland rice in the Philippines. Philippine Entomologist, 7: 67–84.Bhumannavar, B.S. & Viraktamath, C.A. (2001). Larval host specificity, adult feeding and oviposition preference ofthe fruit piercing moth, Othreis homaena Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on different Menispermaceaehost plants. Journal of Entomological Research, 25: 165-181.Common, I. F.B. (1990). Moths of Australia. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.Davis, C.J. (1968). Notes on the grass webworm, Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae), anew pest of turfgrass in Hawaii and its enemies. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society, 20:311-316.Delobel, A. & Gutierrez, J. (1981). One year survey of Lepidopterous populations in New Caledonia using a light trap.Cahiers ORSTOM Serie Biologie, 44: 23-34.Page 3
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