Pyralis manihotalis

Pyralis manihotalis
Pyralis manihotalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Genus: Pyralis
Species: P. manihotalis
Binomial name
Pyralis manihotalis
Guenee, 1854
Synonyms
  • Pyralis achatina Butler, 1877
  • Pyralis vetusalis Walker, [1859]
  • Asopia gerontesalis Walker, 1859
  • Pyralis gerontesalis
  • Asopia gerontialis (misspelling)
  • Sacatia laudatella Walker, 1863
  • Pyralis despectalis Walker, [1866]
  • Pyralis miseralis Walker, [1866]
  • Asopia haematinalis Saalmüller, 1880
  • Endotricha centripunctalis Gaede, 1916
  • Pyralis pupalis Strand, 1919
  • Pyralis ingentalis Caradja, 1927
  • Pyralis compsobathra Meyrick, 1932

Pyralis manihotalis is a moth of the Pyralidae family.

Distribution

It is a widespread, pan-tropical species (Robinson et al., 1994[1]), known from Africa, India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Samoa, Hawaii, South America and the West Indies. It is occasionally recorded from Europe through accidental importation in bones and animal hides.

Description

The wingspan is about 12–20 mm (Robinson et al., 1994; Weinstein & Edwards, 1994;[2] Wang, 2000[3]), although given as a rather generous 24–37 mm in Goater (1986).[4]

Ecology

The larvae feed on a wide range of dead and decaying materials, including stored grain, meal, pulses, dried fruit, bones, animal hides (Goater, 1986; Robinson et al., 1994) and chocolate. Adults are primarily nocturnal, though easily disturbed by day in warehouses; they are attracted to ultraviolet light (Robinson et al., 1994). Weistein & Edwards (1994) found a self-sustaining population of this moth species feeding on bat guano in a cave.

References

  1. ↑ Robinson, G.S., Tuck, K.R. & Shaffer, M., 1994. A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of South-East Asia. The Natural History Museum, London & Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. 307 pp.
  2. ↑ Weistein, P. & Edwards, E.D., 1994. Troglophilic moths in Australia: first record of a self-sustaining population. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 33: 371-319
  3. ↑ Wang, H.Y., 2000. Guide Book to Insects in Taiwan. 19, Pyraloidea (Pyralidae, Crambidae). Shu Shin Books, Taipei, Taiwan. xii+295 pp.
  4. ↑ Goater, B., 1986. British Pyralid Moths - A Guide to their Identification. Harley Books, Colchester, England. 175 pp.
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