Syntonarcha iriastis
Nomenclature 3
Syntonarcha iriastis is a moth in the Crambidae family. It was described by Meyrick in 1890.
Variation 4
There is sexual dimorphism in adults of this species.
Both sexes have the burgandy ground colour with a pronounced pale or white post-medial fascia on the forewing. Males have the dorsal half of the forewing paler, with a dark burgandy sub-medial patch.
Distribution 4
Syntonarcha iriastis is found in the western Pacific, including Hong Kong, New Caledonia and most of Australia, where it has been recorded from Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. It is native to the Australian region, and thought to have spread to (i.e. an accidental introduction to) other areas (e.g. Hong Kong) where the larval host, Melaleuca cajuputi (Paper-bark tree), has been planted as an non-ornamental species.
Ecology 4
The larval host is Melaleuca cajuputi (reported as Melaleuca leucadendron by Lee & Winney, 1982), which has been planted in Hong Kong (Corlett, 1999, as M. quinquenervia) as a non-ornamental tree since 1897 (Ford, 1898), where it has the potential to be invasive, as has happened elsewhere in the world (Hau, 2001).
The species is multivoltine in Hong Kong, adults recorded throughout the year. Population peaks occur in July, August, October and November.
References 4
Corlett, R.T., 1999. Environmental forestry in Hong Kong: 1871-1997. Forest Ecology and Management 116 : 93-105.
Ford, C. 1898. Report of the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department for 1897. Government Notification No. 273, pp. 601-609, The Hong Kong Government Gazette, 18th June 1898.
Hau, B.C.H.., 2001. Is the Paper Bark tree becoming invasive in Hong Kong? Porcupine! 24 : 19-20.
Lee, L.H.Y. & Winney, R., 1982. Check List of Agricultural Insects of Hong Kong 1981. Agriculture and Fisheries Department Bulletin No.2. 164 pp.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Ian McMillan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/7365168@N02/15362687770/
- (c) Roger C. Kendrick, all rights reserved, uploaded by Roger C. Kendrick
- Adapted by Roger C. Kendrick from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntonarcha_iriastis
- (c) Roger C. Kendrick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
