Species Simplicia cornicalis - Hodges#8339.1

8339.1

Simplicia cornicalis (Fabricius, 1794)

Junior Synonym

Simplicia caeneusalis (Walker, 1859) (1)

22-26 mm WS (1)

With large numbers of palms in Florida and Louisiana, as well as extensive tracts of palmetto, S. cornicalis should become abundant before long and possibly throughout the southern United States. The coldhardiness of the species is not known, butit has survived thus far in Gainesville and southern Louisiana where winter frosts are normal. Consequently, it is likely the species will eventually occur northwards at least as far as coastal South Carolina and west to coastal Texas. It could well becomea thatch pest in Mexico and Central America once it spreads tothere in a few years, which seems highly likely given the rapid movement from Florida to Louisiana in 2-3 years time. (1)

Feeds mostly on dried plant leaves and plant debris, rotting seed pods, and particularly palm thatch. (1)

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