FIRST RECORD OF Numia terebintharia GUENÉE (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) IN Ziziphus joazeiro MART. (RHAMNACEAE) IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Geometridae is one of the most diverse Lepidoptera families; however, little information about Geometridae species is found, even regarding their distribution and basic biology, which are in general restricted to type locality. Lists of species and their host plants are not found for the Semiarid region of the Northeast of Brazil. The present note reports the occurrence of caterpillars of the species Numia terebintharia Guenée consuming leaves of evergreen trees of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. in a site with xerophilous deciduous Caatinga vegetation in that region. Some trees had approximately 90% of their leaves with injuries. This is the first record of N. terebintharia caterpillars occurring in Brazil and the first record of Z. joazeiro as their host plant.