Parapoynx diminutalis Snellen

Taxonomy

The lectotype of Parapoynx diminutalis Snellen, 1880: 242 from Sulawesi (Makassar) selected by Munroe et al. (1958) is in RMNH Leiden.

• syn. Paraponyx [sic] dicentra Meyrick, 1885: 431. T.L. Australia (Queensland, Duaringa). Syn. n. (Shaffer et al., 1996);
• syn. Oligostigma pallida Butler, 1886: 423.

Description

A rather indistinctly patterned species with sinuous light brown or tan markings on the outer parts of the wings. Parts of the bands may be obscured by variable amounts of black scales. A widespread species, introduced worldwide. Figured in Snellen (1884: pl. 5, fig. 1). Described in Agassiz (1981a) and also figured in Goater (1985: Pl. 4, figs. 2 & 3). Li et al. (2009) Figure the sp. (pl. X fig. 147) and the male and female genitalia (pl. XLIII fig. 147; pl. LXXXII, fig. 147). Buckingham and Bennett (1996) give details of its biology and describe its life stages. For details of African distribution see Agassiz (2012).

Life History

Pan tropical, worldwide adventive with water plants. Minor pest? Hydrilla verticillata , Hydrocharis dubia, Elodea nuttallii (Hydrocharitaceae);

References

• Snellen, P. C. T., (1880) Nieuwe Pyraliden op het eiland Celebes gevonden ddor Mr. M. C. Piepers. Tijdschr. v. Ent. 23: 198-250.
• Snellen, P. C. T., (1884) Lepidoptera van Celebes verzameld door M. C. Piepers, met aanteekeningen en beschrijving der nieuwe soorten. Tijdschr. v. Ent. 27: 35-54, pl. 3-5.
• Meyrick, E., (1885) On the classification of the Australian Pyralidina. Trans. ent. Soc. Lond. 4: 421-456.
• Meyrick, E. (1885) X On the classification of the Australian Pyralidina Trans. ent. Soc. Lond. 1885 (4): 421-456.
• Butler, A. G., (1886) Descriptions of 21 new genera and 103 new species of Lepidoptera - Heterocera from the Australian Region. Tr. ent. Soc. Lond.: 381-441, pl. 9-10.
• Munroe, E.G., Diakonoff, A. & Martin, E.L. (1958) Catalogue of Snellen’s types of Pyralidae with selections of lectotypes. Tijdschr. v. Ent., 101 (2): 65-88.
• Goater, B. (1986) British Pyralid Moths - A Guide to their Identification, Harley Books, Colchester. 175pp.
• Buckingham, G. R. & Bennett, C. A. (1989) Laboratory host range of Parapoynx diminutalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), an Asian aquatic moth adventive in Florida and Panama on Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Envir Entomol. 18, 526-530.
• Shaffer, M., & Nielsen, E.S. & Horak, M., (1996) Pyraloidea (In Nielsen, E.S., Edwards, E.D. & Rangji (Eds.) Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia: 164 - 199, CSIRO, Australia.
• Agassiz, D.J.L. (2012) The Acentropinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) of Africa. Zootaxa 3494 :1–73, 24 pl..
• Agassiz, D.J.L., (1981a). Further introduced china mark moths (Lep. Pyralidae) new to Britain. Ent. Gaz. 29: 117-127.