Piesmopoda semilutea, a knot-horn moth, [螟蛾科; 斑螟亞科]
Piesmopoda semilutea (Walker, 1863)
Key Identification points . . . 2
the yellow basal and medial sections, plus a maroon terminal third of the forewing, with several tiny red spots sub-medially, as well as the typical phycitine involute resting posture are unmistakable. In fresh individuals there is a scattering of grey-white scales near to and along the forewing costa.
Phenology 2
recorded thoughout the year, with most observations from July through November (see Figure 3, above)
Ecology 2
Adults have been recorded in all main terrestrial habitat types, except dense urban zones, up to 690m elevation
Larvae feed internally in seeds of Gnetum luofuense C.Y.Cheng (D. Mohn, pers. comm.)
Distribution in Hong Kong 2
Widespread: recorded throughout the New Territories and on the larger islands.
Systematics 2
Current binomial: Piesmopoda semilutea (Walker, 1863)
Family: Pyralidae (螟蛾科)
Subfamily: Phycitinae (Knot-horn Moths, 斑螟亞科)
Tribe: Cryptoblabini
Original genus: Guastica Walker
Current genus: Piesmopoda Zeller (as listed on Globiz Pyraloidea database - http://globiz.pyraloidea.org/) (the "new" combination was made by Shaffer, J. C. 1995: Phycitinae. Pp. 93-105. – In: Heppner, J. B., Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 2. Hyblaeoidea - Pyraloidea - Tortricoidea 3. – , Gainesville.)
Species: semilutea, described by: Walker, 1863 Crambites & Tortricites. – List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, London. 27: 81.
postscript: further investigation show that the genitalia of semilutea is not closely related to the New World species of Piesmopoda, based on genitalia illustrations in Roesler, 1983 (for P. semilutea) and Neunzig & Dow, 1993 (for the following species in Belize: P. ragonoti, P. proximparva, P. xanthomera & P. flavicans)
Neunzig, H.H. & Dow, L.C., 1993. The Phycitinae of Belize (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). North Carolina Agricultural Research Service Technical Bulletin 304.
Roesler, R.U., 1983. Die Phycitinae von Sumatra (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Heterocera Sumatrana 3.
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