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Title: SIAMUSOTIMA ARANEA, A NEW STEM-BORING MUSOTIMINE (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE) FROM THAILAND FEEDING ON LYGODIUM FLEXUOSUM (L.) SW. (SCHIZAEACEAE)

Author
item Solis, M Alma
item YEN, SHEN-HORN - KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN
item GOOLSBY, JOHN - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
item WRIGHT, TONY - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
item PEMBERTON, ROBERT - USDA, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
item WINOTAI, AMPOM - DEPT OF AGRIC, BANGKOK
item RIMBUT, SURIONT - CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2005
Publication Date: 11/30/2005
Citation: Solis, M.A., Yen, S., Goolsby, J.H., Wright, T., Pemberton, R., Winotai, A., Rimbut, S. 2005. Siamusotima aranea, a new stem-boring musotimine (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from Thailand feeding on Lygodium flexuosum (L.) SW. (Schizaeaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 98(6):887-895.

Interpretive Summary: Recent interest in biological control agents of the Old World climbing fern, an invasive species that infests more than 100,000 acres in Florida, has prompted the exploration for, and discovery of, new snout moth caterpillars feeding on this fern in its native habitat. A genus new to science is described for one species that is being tested for biological control purposes. The identities and relationships of this and related species, including those bred in the laboratory and tested for biological control purposes, are confirmed and stabilized. The immature stages are described and illustrated, their biology discussed, and compared to other closely related moths also feeding on ferns. 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 in insects.

Technical Abstract: Siamusotima aranea Solis & Yen, is a new stem-boring musotimine species from Thailand. It was discovered in the stems of Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw. (Schizaeaceae) during exploration for biological control agents of Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br., the Old World climbing fern. This is the first report of a stem-boring larva in the Pyraloidea with unique modifications of the anal segment resembling that of tenebrionid beetle immatures. We also discuss the possibility of mimicry between the adult moth and spiders.