Taxonomic and biological studies on pyralid moths on azolla (Lepidoptera)
1985
Mochida, O. | Yoshiyasu, Y. | Dimaano, D.
Four lepidopterous pests infesting azolla were found in the Philippines: Nymphula enixalis (Swinhoe), N. sp. (probably new to science), N. responsalis (Walker) and Ephestiopsis vishnu Roesler et Kuppers (formerly known as Cryptoblabes sp.). In laboratory conditions (12L, 12D, 27 plus or minus 3 C), the period of development from the egg to the adult of the above 4 species were about 31, 31, 34, and 19 days, respectively. A group of Nymphula infesting azolla is monophyletic from a morphological standpoint. This group was tentatively called "N. enixalis group" which includes 6 species: N. enixalis, N. responsalis, N. sp., N. melagynalis Agassiz, N. turbata (Butler) and N. manilensis Hampson. Ephestiopsis vishnu was related to Cryptoblabes species in the wing marketing and larval characters, however, there were some differences between them, particularly on the genitalia. Based on this, it is suggested that the taxonomic position of this species be revised. Nymphula spp. are polyphagous, while Ephestiopsis vishnu may be monophagous, depending only on Azolla spp. Ephestiopsis vishnu was more abundant than Nymphula spp. in the field throughout the year according to both adult, larval, and pupal collection data. Based on the results obtained both in the laboratory and field, Ephestiopsis vishnu was to be considered as the most important pest of Azolla in the Philippines
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