Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163756

Title: A REVIEW OF THE GENUS DIFUNDELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE: PHYCITINAE)

Author
item NEUNZIG, H - NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2004
Publication Date: 4/4/2005
Citation: Neunzig, H.H., Solis, M.A. 2005. A review of the genus Difundella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 107(2):303-314

Interpretive Summary: Many caterpillars are well known as stored product pests and a new group of moths related to them is reviewed. It includes three known species from tropical America and four species new to science, two from Costa Rica and two from Brazil. Although the hosts of this group are unknown, it is closely related to another group that is commonly intercepted at U.S. ports and are pests on leguminous crops. This research is part of project in Costa Rica to study the Neotropical fauna outside the United States and is an important contribution to knowledge about possible invasive species. An identification key and illustrations are provided for the moth species so that they can be readily identified by quarantine and scientific personnel. This information will be useful to both action agency identifiers and regulatory personnel at ports and scientists.

Technical Abstract: The genus Difundella is redescribed. Seven species are recongized as belonging to the genus: D. cancerella n. sp., D. corynophora Dyar, D. dumiella Neunzig and Dow, D. parana n. sp., D. subsutella (Schaus), D. teresina n. sp., and D. unguifera n. sp. A key to species based on male adults and descriptions of four new species are included, along with habitus photographs of all species, line drawings of the antenna, labial palpus and wing venation of the type species, and illustrations of the male genitalia of all species and genitalia figures of females of three of the species.