First reports of non-phytophagous Nearctic chrysaugine moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).
Authors
James E. Hayden
Lyle L. Buss
Kyle E. Schnepp
Lei Xiao
Keywords:
neotropics, bark, sloth moth, troglophily
Abstract
Coprophagy and probable saprophagy are reported for larvae of two species of chrysaugine moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Larvae of Parachma ochracealis Walker are found in rotten pine wood and mulch in North-Central Florida. Larvae of Basacallis tarachodes (Dyar) inhabit feces of an unidentifi ed small mammal in a cave in Central Florida and seem to be troglophilic. These behaviors are compared to similar ones in Neotropical chrysaugines such as Humiphila Becker and Cryptoses Dyar. Saprophagy and coprophagy are predicted to be more general habits among Chrysauginae.
