Cydalima perspectalis Walker

Taxonomy

The holotype of Phakellura perspectalis Walker, 1859: 515 is from North China.

Comb. n. to Cydalima (Mally & Nuss 2010).

• syn. Glyphodes albifuscalis Hampson, 1899: 739, pl. 50 fig. 12
  • TL China, (Hubei prov., Yichang [‘Ichang’]) Syn n. Leech & South (1901: 472).
• syn. Phacellura [sic] advenalis Lederer, J. (1863c [Nov]): 400, 478, pl. 13 fig. 17. TL Japan. China. Indonesia, Java (Globiz).

This sp. has been placed in various spilomeline genera including Palpita Hübner, 1808, Diaphania Hübner, 1818, Glyphodes Guenée, 1854 and the monotypic Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008, before Malley & Nuss (2010) considered its placement closely.

Description

Usually a distinctive black and white sp. The FWs have broad grey-black borders and a white crescent in the cell. the HW is white with a broad grey-black termenal border. A melanic ab. is common in all areas. This concolourous form is a large black sp. with obscure markings except for a large white discocellular spot. Compare with the black and white typical form. See Wang & Speidel, 2001: 115.

Life History

The life cyle and biology have been investigated by Maruyama (1993) and Maruyama & Shinkaji (1987, 1991, 1993). Bunescu & Florian (2016) illustrate the large (<50mm) black & yellow aposomatic caterpillars which feed openly, skeletonising the leaves. The most significant damage, however, can be from the larvae attacking the bark of box trees causing the trees to dry out and die. Its larvae are a serious pest of Buxus spp. and the Box tree moth is now widelyfound in the UK. The FERA (2011), factsheet provides more information about identification and control.

References

• Guenée, M. A. (1854) Deltoïdes et pyralites. In Boisduval, J.A. & Guenée, A., Hist. nat. des Insectes (Spec. gén. Lépid.) Vol. 8, 448pp. + 10 pls., Librarie Encyclopédique de Roret: Paris. Hübner, J., & Geyer, C. (1818-1837) Zuträge zur Sammlung exotischer Schmettlinge [sic] bestehend in Bekundigung einzelner Fliegmuster neuer oder rarer nichteuropäischer Gattungen, 1-5. 224 pp + 172 pls. Augsburg. [In German] Wang, H-Y & Speidel, W. (2000) Guide Book to Insects in Taiwan (19). Pyraloidea (Pyralidae, Crambidae). Shu Shin Books, Taipei, Taiwan: pp 295.
• Hampson, G. F. (1898 [1899]) A revision of the moths of the subfamily Pyraustinae and the family Pyralidae. Part 1, Proc. zool. soc. Lond. 1898 (4): 590-761, pls 49-50.
• Maruyama, T. & Shinkaji, N. (1987) Studies on the life cycle of the box-tree pyralid, Glyphodes perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). I. Seasonal adult emergence and developmental velocity. Jap. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 31: 226-232.
• Maruyama T. & Shinkaji N. (1991) The life cycle of the boxtree pyralid, Glyphodes perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). II. Developmental characteristics of larvae. Jap. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 35: 221–230.
• Maruyama, T. (1993) Life cycle of the box-tree pyralid, Glyphodes perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). IV. Effect of various host plants on larval growth and food utilization. Jap. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 37: 117–122.
• Maruyama T. & Shinkaji N. (1993) The life cycle of the boxtree pyralid, Glyphodes perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). III. Photoperiodic induction of larval diapause. Jap. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 37: 45–51.
• Mally, R & Nuss, M (2010) Phylogeny and nomenclature of the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) comb. n., which was recently introduced into Europe (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Spilomelinae), Eur. J. Entomol. 107: 393–400.
• FERA (UK) [Food & Environment Research Agency] (2011) Box tree caterpillar, Cydalima perspectalis Factsheet: 4 pp.
• Bunescu, H. & Florian, T (2016) The Box Tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) a New Invasive Species in Cluj Area (Romania) Pro Environment 9: 62-66.
• https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/assets/factsheets/boxTreeCaterpillar2011.pdf.
• Lederer, J. (1863c [Nov]) Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Pyralidinen. Wien. entomol. Monat. 7 (11): 379-426, pl. 2-18.
• Walker, F. (1859d [May 10]) Pyralides, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 18: 509-798. Wang