Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae s. l., Spilomelinae) in Iran: first record for the country and first host plant report on water fern (Azolla filiculoides Lam., Azollaceae)

Abstract

During a survey at the Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII, Rasht, Guilan) for potential biocontrol agents of water fern, Azolla filiculoides Lam. (Pteridophyta: Azollaceae), larvae of Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel) (Pyralidae s. l., Spilomelinae) were discovered feeding on water fern. Larvae were found to cause serious feeding damage on leaves of water fern in the laboratory. The biology, life cycle, and the morphology of all stages of this species are described and illustrated for the first time. This is also the first record of this cosmopolitan species in Iran. We report water fern as a host for Diasemiopsis ramburialis; until now the host plant of D. ramburialis was unknown.

Refining the phylogeny of Crambidae with complete sampling of subfamilies (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea)

“…Our finding of Hoploscopinae and Musotiminae in different clades speaks in favour for an independent evolution of fern feeding in these two groups. Further cases of fern feeding in Crambidae are known from Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel, 1833), Herpetogramma platycapna (Meyrick, 1897) , Samea multiplicalis (Guenée, 1854), Udea decrepitalis (Herrich‐Schäffer, 1848) (all Spilomelinae) and Phenacodes aleuropa (Lower, 1903) (Glaphyriinae), and from several Acentropinae feeding on aquatic pteridophytes (Farahpour‐Haghani et al., 2016; Kirk, 1978; Knopf & Habeck, 1976; Lhomme, 1935; see also Mally et al., 2017 for additional fern‐feeding species).…”

Water ferns Azolla spp. (Azollaceae) as new host plants for the small China-mark moth, Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Acentropinae)

“…Since then, the overall ecological water quality, the habitat conditions, the numbers of migratory birds and fishes, and the aquatic plant diversity have declined in this ecosystem, particularly in the protected Selkeh wildlife refuge (Sadeghi et al 2013a, b). In addition, the Amir-Kelayeh Wetland, which is another wildlife refuge, has become infested by this annoying weed as well (Farahpour et al 2016). These changes are mainly related to anthropogenic activities (e.g.…”

Distinguish Behavioral Characteristics of <em>Diasemiopsis Ramburial</em> (Duponchel, 1833) and <em>Nomophila noctuella</em> (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775) (Lepidop-Tera: Crambidae) on Azolla spp.

“…In recent years, it has been indicated that Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel, 1833) and Nomophila noctuella (Denis and Schiffermuller, 1775) (Figure 1), two snout moths from spilomelinae, feed on Azolla spp. in the northern region of Iran and have overlapping feeding periods (Table 1) [2,3]. Diasemiopsis was described by Munroe (1957) with Hydrocampa ramburialis (Duponchel, 1833) as type species.…”

“…Diasemiopsis ramburialis is a cosmopolitan species [5] and Azolla spp. are known as the first host plants of this moth [2]. Nomophila was described by Hübner (1825) with Pyralis hybridalis (Hübner, 1796) as type species.…”

“…are considered as alien species in Iran. Over the last few years, this obnoxious weed has invaded many wetlands in the northern regions of Iran [10][11][12]2] and due to eradication of native plants, the insects that feed on these plants either had to use new plants as a food resource or die. Our studies indicated, that D. ramburialis and N. noctuella feeds on Azolla spp.…”