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Title: DESCRIPTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF LYGOMUSOTIMA NEW GENUS, AND NEOMUSOTIMA CONSPURCATALIS (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE) FROM AUSTRALIA AND SOUTHEASTERN ASIA FEEDING ON LYGODIUM MICROPHYLLUM (SCHIZAEACEAE)

Author
item Solis, M Alma
item YEN, SHEN-HORN - NHM, LONDON, U.K.
item GOOLSBY, JOHN - USDA, QUEENSLAND, AUS.

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2003
Publication Date: 1/17/2004
Citation: Solis, M.A., Yen, S., Goolsby, J.A. 2004. Description and life history of lygomusotima new genus, and neomusotima conspurcatalis (lepidoptera: crambidae) from australia and southeastern asia feeding on lygodium microphyllum (schizaeaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 97(1): 64-76

Interpretive Summary: Recent interest in biological control agents of invasive ferns has prompted the exploration for and discovery of new snout moth caterpillars feeding on ferns. Fern-feeding moths new to science from Australia and southeastern Asia are described, indluding two new species and a redescription of another. The caterpillars feed on the Old World climbing fern, an invasive weed in southeastern U.S., and are being tested for release. The immature stages of these species are described and illustrated, and their biology is discussed. This information will be useful to action agencies or quarantine identifiers, biological control workers of the Old World climbing fern in the U.S., and evolutionary biologists interested in the evolution of fern-feeding insects.

Technical Abstract: Lygomusotima Solis & Yen, new genus, and two new species, stria and constricta, are described from Australia and southeastern Asia. Lygomusotima stria was discovered feeding on Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. during exploration for biological control agents. Its immatures and its biology are described. The new genus is compared to Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren, new combination, another species that was discovered feeding on L. microphyllum. Neomusotima conspurcatalis is redescribed, and its immatures and biology are described for the first time. Musotima fuscalis Snellen is designated as a new synonym of Neomusotima conspurcatalis.