Haritalodes polycymalis

Haritalodes polycymalis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by George Hampson in 1912.[1] It is found in sub-Saharan Africa from Sierra Leone to South Africa.

Haritalodes polycymalis
Adult (top) and larva (bottom)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Haritalodes
Species:
H. polycymalis
Binomial name
Haritalodes polycymalis
(Hampson, 1912)
Synonyms
  • Sylepta polycymalis Hampson, 1912

Description

The wingspan is about 26 mm. The forewings are pale yellow with two black points on the base of the costal area followed by a curved line, then a series of black points. There is an oblique slightly waved antemedial line, followed by a brown annulus from the costa to the median nervure and another below the cell. There is a brown bar from the costa to the lower angle of the cell and a waved postmedial line bent outwards between veins 6 and 2, then retracted to below the angle of the cell and oblique to the inner margin and with a waved line across its sinus between veins 6 and 2, and an oblique bar from it at vein 2 to the tornus. There is also a waved subterminal line from the costa to vein 5 connected with the termen by a brown patch between veins 6 and 5. There are some subterminal points on the inner half and a strong blackish terminal line. The hindwings are pale yellow with a rather diffused sinuous subbasal line from the subcostal nervure to the inner margin, an oblique discoidal bar and oblique line from the lower angle of the cell to the tornus, as well as a waved postmedial line bent outwards between veins 5 and 2, then oblique to above tornus, with an irregularly waved line on its inner side from the costa to vein 2. The subterminal line is waved from the costa to vein 2 and there is a strong blackish terminal line expanding into a slight patch at the apex.[2]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Equateur, East Kasai), Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), Tanzania and Uganda.

Behaviour and ecology

The larvae feed on Cola diversifolia, Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Dombeya species.[3]

References

  1. Nuss, M.; et al. (2003โ€“2017). "GlobIZ search". Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  2. Hampson, George F. (July 1912). "Descriptions of new Species of Pyralidae of the Subfamily Pyraustinae". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 8. Taylor and Francis. 10 (55): 15 โ€“ via Internet Archive.
  3. De Prins, J. & De Prins, W. (2017). "Haritalodes polycymalis (Hampson, 1912)". Afromoths. Retrieved March 11, 2018.[Afro Moths]


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