Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cnaphalocrocis trapezalis
described in 1854 by Guenee, who originally placed it in genus Salbia
6 other synonyms listed at
All-Leps, none more recent than 1886.
Numbers
One of 2 species in this genus in North America listed at
All-LepsSize
wingspan about 13 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
Identification
Adult: FW light brown to whitish, shaded darker along the costa ● AM begins just above anal angle of HW, continuing upward, onto the FW and curving upward toward costa ● Elongated discal spot, perpendicular to costa ● PM on FW turns downward near middle, curving back upward toward costa ● ST parallel to PM on FW, with area below shaded darker ● PM on HW does not line up with FW, instead converges with ST near inner margin ● ST on HW shaped like on FW, except begins at anal angle of HW ● Narrow, yellowish-orange terminal band, bordered by thin, dark lines, on both FW and HW
Larva: Body slender, greenish-yellow with stiff brown bristles; larvae wiggle rapidly when disturbed
Range
Florida to Maryland, west at least to Oklahoma (based on
this BugGuide image by Mark Dreiling)
also occurs in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia
Season
adults fly from May to August in Maryland
Food
larvae feed on leaves of corn, rice, and other grains; second instar and later larvae fasten leaf margins together with silk, and feed hidden within the rolled leaf
See Also
Marasmia Moth (
M. cochrusalis) PM lines on forewing and hindwing line up when wings are spread, and forewing AM and PM lines are farther apart at inner margin than in
M. trapezalis (
compare images of these and related species by Jim Vargo at MPG) [This aspect is contradicted by most/all images of barcoded specimens on BOLD--to the point that the reality seems to be exactly the opposite; lines lining up on
trapezalis and not meeting on
conchrusalis. Needs to be rechecked.]
Print References
Guenée, M. A. 1854: Deltoïdes et Pyralites. Pp. 200. – In: Boisduval, J. B. A. D. de & M. A. Guenée, Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères 8 8. – Roret, Paris.
Internet References
pinned adult image by John Glaser, plus dates and locations (Larry Line, Maryland)
3 pinned adult images and collection site map showing presence in Florida (All-Leps)
world distribution; PDF doc plus common name reference [Rice Leaffolder; larva], foodplants, larval description (E.A. Heinrichs and Alberto Barrion, Internation Rice Research Institute)
foodplant; PDF doc and larval behavior (The Natural Enemies of
Marasmia trapezalis, a Pest of Maize and Jowar, Proceeding of the Indian Academy of Science)
synonyms (Markku Savela, FUNET)