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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366862
Research Project: Systematics of Moths Significant to Biodiversity, Quarantine, and Control, with a Focus on Invasive Species

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Archernis humilis (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) rediscovered feeding on skunk vine (Paederia foetida L.) in southeast Asia

Author
item Solis, M Alma
item Pratt, Paul
item MAKINSON, J. - Australian Biological Control Laboratory, ARS
item PURCELL, M. - Australian Biological Control Laboratory, ARS
item Rayamajhi, Min
item Mattison, Elizabeth
item MALLY, RICHARD - University Of Bergen

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2020
Publication Date: 7/23/2020
Citation: Solis, M.A., Pratt, P.D., Makinson, J., Purcell, M.F., Rayamajhi, M.B., Mattison, E.D., Mally, R. 2020. Archernis humilis (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) rediscovered feeding on skunk vine (Paederia foetida L.) in southeast Asia. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 122(3):732-749. https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.122.3.732.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.122.3.732

Interpretive Summary: Skunk vine was exported to Florida and Hawaii from southeastern Asia in the 1800’s. It then escaped cultivation and invaded natural areas displacing native vegetation. A snout moth species was discovered feeding on skunk vine during exploratory surveys in Hong Kong, China, for potential biological control agents. Although the moth species was found not to be a suitable for biological control, we describe the adults in greater detail and the immatures for the first time, providing photographs or illustrations for their identification. We discuss its relationship to other snout moths. This information will be useful to scientists, action agency identifiers, and regulatory personnel at U. S. ports.

Technical Abstract: Archernis humilis Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was discovered feeding on Paederia foetida L. (Rubiaceae) or skunk vine, an invasive species in the United States. It was tested for biological control of P. foetida in Florida, U.S.A., but was not sufficiently host specific to develop as a biological control agent. This is the first report of a food plant, and description of the genitalia and immatures of this southeast Asian species. We discuss its close relationship to Prophantis Warren (Spilomelinae: Trichaeini).