Herpetogramma sphingealis

Herpetogramma sphingealis
Male
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Clade:	Euarthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Herpetogramma
Species:	H. sphingealis
Binomial name
Herpetogramma sphingealis Handfield & Handfield, 2011

Herpetogramma sphingealis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Louis Handfield and Daniel Handfield in 2011.

Range

It is found from southern Quebec southward in eastern United States to Georgia and Louisiana and as far west as Arkansas.

Description

The wingspan is 34–37 mm for males and 31–34 mm for females. Adults are sexually dimorphic. Males are nearly uniform dark brown. The hindwings are dark brown with a dark discal spot. Females have more apically-squared wings and are less uniformly dark coloured.

Habitat

It occurs in the darkest areas of rich xeric forests, with maples and oaks, especially rocky, hilly, maple groves where Christmas fern occurs commonly. Its dark-brown colour is well suited for hiding in these woods. The moth comes readily to light and flies at the beginning of the night. It is sometimes one of the first to come to light. Its flight is darting and rapid. The underside of the head, thorax and abdomen, including the legs, are pure white, so it is easily spotted when flying to the light. The moth is cryptically coloured and well adapted to hide in the darkest shadows of the woods.^[1]

Biology

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Polystichum acrostichoides and might also feed on other species of ferns. They roll the leaves of their host plant.

Etymology

The Latin name sphingealis refers to the sphingid-like appearance of the males.

References