Herpetogramma sphingealis
Male (top) and female (bottom)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Herpetogramma
Species:	H. sphingealis
Binomial name
Herpetogramma sphingealis L. Handfield & D. Handfield, 2011

Herpetogramma sphingealis is a small species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described as a new species in 2011.

Taxonomy

Herpetogramma sphingealis was described by Louis Handfield and Daniel Handfield in 2011. ^[1]

The Latin name sphingealis refers to the sphingid-like appearance of the males. ^[1]

Description

The underside of the head, thorax and abdomen, including the legs, are pure white, so it is easily spotted when flying towards a light trap. ^[1]

Imagoes, adult moths, are sexually dimorphic. The wingspan is 34–37 mm for males and 31–34 mm for females. Males are nearly uniform dark brown. The hind-wings are dark brown with a dark discal spot. Females have more apically-squared wings and are less uniformly dark coloured. ^[1]

Distribution

It is found from southern Quebec southward in eastern United States to Georgia and Louisiana and as far west as Arkansas. ^[1]

Ecology

Behaviour

The moth is readily attracted to light traps and flies around at the beginning of the night. It is sometimes one of the first species to come to a light trap. Its flight is darting and rapid. ^[1]

The caterpillars have been recorded feeding on Polystichum acrostichoides and might also feed on other species of ferns. They roll the fronds of their host plant. ^[1]

Habitat

It occurs in the darkest areas of rich xeric forests, with maples and oaks, especially rocky, hilly, maple groves where Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly occurs. With its dark-brown colour the moth is cryptically coloured in its natural habitat and well adapted to hide in the darkest shadows of the woods. ^[1]

References