Species Cnaphalocrocis trapezalis - Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288

5288

Rice Leaffolder (larva)

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.

One of 2 species in this genus in North America listed at All-Leps

wingspan about 13 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG

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

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

adults fly from May to August in Maryland

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

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.]

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.