New sightings of Glyphodes onychinalis (Guenée) (Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Spilomelinae), a recent arrival to the United States, and description of the larva reared on oleander (Nerium sp.) in California

Authors: Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: News of the Lepidopterist's Society
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2008
Publication Date: 1/26/2009
Citation: Solis, M.A. 2009. New sightings of Glyphodes onychinalis (Guenée) (Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Spilomelinae), a recent arrival to the United States, and description of the larva reared on oleander (Nerium sp.) in California. News of the Lepidopterist's Society. 50(3-4):79-95.

Interpretive Summary: Exotic snout moths introduced into the US, such as the European corn borer, cause millions of dollars of damage annually. This note reports new population sightings of a snout moth species from the Afro-Asian region in California feeding on oleander. We provide illustrations of the adults, larvae, and damage on oleander for identification. These results will be useful to biologists, state and federal quarantine organizations such as APHIS, and state conservation agencies.

Technical Abstract: In 2007 and 2008, Don Sterba of Culver City, Los Angeles Co., observed the adults of Glyphodes onychinalis (Guenée), a non-native crambid, in large numbers. It was first reported new to the United States from Newport Beach, California in 2000 where it was reared from oleander (Nerium sp.). The larva of this Afro-Asian species is described for the first time based on material collected from the initial report.