Cnaphalocrocis rutialis Walker
- Family: Crambidae
- Subfamily: Spilomelinae
- Genus: Cnaphalocrocis
- Distribution: Sri Lanka, India ('N. Hindustan'), Sabah, China (Hong Kong), Australia; Lowland.
- Habitat: Cultivated areas <460m
- Wing Length: 7mm
Taxonomy
The holotype of Botys rutilalis Walker, 1859: 665 is from Sri Lanka it was considered a junior subjective syn. of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis after Lederer 1863: 355 suggested that the female of C. iolinalis [ = B. jolealis & B. jolinalis Lederer] Walker 1859d: 666, was syn. with Botys rutilalis Walker.
Because of differences in fasciation we provisionally consider it a good sp.. There are a number of specimens from Sabah in the Schulze Coll.
Description
A typical Cnaphalocrocis sp. in brown and coppery yellow. The FW has a distinct brown patch along the subcosta. However note the angled shape of the FW ante-median line where it approaches the costa and the absence of the large patch of curled scent scales which is present on the FW of the males of C. medinalis. Schulze (2000) taxon #343.
Life History
The larva probably feeds on the leaves of grasses (Poaceae).
References
- Schulze, C.H. (2000) Auswirkungen anthropogener Störungen auf die DiversitÀt von Herbivoren. (Analys von Nachtfalterzönosen entlang von Habitatgradienten in Ost-Malaysia). Unpubl. PhD Thesis, University of Bayreuth, Germany, 350pp.
- Walker, F. (1859d [May 10]) Pyralides, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 18: 509-798.