Calodema, 145: 1-5 (2011)

T.J. Hawkeswood- Herpetogramma

Observations on the biology, habitat and larval host plant of

Herpetogramma cynaralis (Walker, 1859)(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in
Queensland, Australia
by Dr T.J. Hawkeswood*
*PO Box 842, Richmond, New South Wales, NSW, 2753, Australia. (www.calodema.com)
Hawkeswood, T.J. (2011). Observations on the biology, habitat and larval host plant of Herpetogramma cynaralis
(Walker, 1859)(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Queensland, Australia. Calodema, 145: 1-5.
Abstract: Some opportunistic observations on the biology, habitat and larval host plant of the Queensland moth,
Herpetogramma cynaralis (Walker, 1859)(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) are recorded here for the first time. The pupal
duration is at least 4-5 days. The host plant is the rainforest vine, Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers var. discolor
(Menispermaceae). Larva pupate within leaf rolls of the host plant. The pupae are heavily parasitized by black wasps,
Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). The biology, hosts and parasite are compared to those of other
Herpetogramma species in Australia and elsewhere.
Key words: Herpetogramma cynaralis, larval host plant, Stephania japonica, Pyralidae, Lepidoptera.

Introduction
Herpetogramma cynaralis (Walker, 1859) was originally described as Botys cynaralis by Walker
(1859). Since then nothing has been published on the biology, host plants and parasites of this
species. During the 1980s I made numerous opportunistic observations on the entomofauna of
the southern Brisbane area, Queensland. I present below field observations and other data on the
habitat and biology of a poorly known native moth, Herpetogramma cynaralis (Walker, 1859).
Observations
A. Biological
On 25 April 1986, I collected two last instar larvae of H. cynaralis from the young, pale green leaves of several plants
of Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers var. discolor (Menispermaceae) growing on the grounds of the Griffith
University campus, Mt. Gravatt, Brisbane, south-eastern Queensland. The host plants were growing in a semi-shaded
gully comprised of introduced weedy vines and native plants. The larvae possessed a black head capsule, black thorax
with two black-brown spots on the thorax and the body was of a dull yellow coloration; body length of the larvae were
12.2 and 12.0 mm and head capsule width were 1.35 mm and 1.3 mm respectively. The larvae pupated during the night
of 30 April-1 May 1986. Adults emerged on 5 May 1986 after spending 5 days as pupae. Another lava obtained on 26
April 1986 pupated on the night of 27 April 1986. Pupae measured 11.0-12.0 mm long by 2.6-2.8 mm wide. Larvae
rolled the leaves and secure them with silken filaments. The curled leaves were usually full of faecal pellets as a result
of continued feeding in the rolled leaf before pupation. Fungi were usually associated with the faecal pellets. The
length of Stephania leaves utilised by larvae measured 7.6, 6.0, 5.5, 6.5, 9.6, 6.1, 5.5, 4.2 and 6.8 mm respectively
(average 6.42, standard deviation 2.32). A number of leaf rolls were examined but not all contained larvae at the time.
A parasitized larva was collected on 23 April 1986 and it pupated on 24 April 1986; on 28 April 1986, 17 female and
3 male Trichogramma wasps hatched out of the pupa. No adult moths were observed in the forest during the
observation periods. Feeding was not observed during the day and probably occurs during the night.
B. Habitat
The habitat of the site where observations were undertaken was composed of a dry sclerophyll forest with some native
mesic flora. The site is situated about 10 km south of Brisbane. The vegetation was comprised of open mixed
Eucalyptus forest/woodland with an overstorey dominated by Angophora woodsiana F.M. Bail., Eucalyptus umbra
R.T. Baker, E. baileyana F. Muell. (Myrtaceae) and Casuarina littoralis Salisb. (Casuarinaceae). There were also a
number of standing and fallen dead trees, especially of C. littoralis in the area, especially along the lower sides of
gullies. The understorey of the forest/woodland was comprised of a variety of woody shrubs and small trees including
Alphitonia excelsa (Fenzl) Benth. (Rhamnaceae), Acacia longifolia (Wendl.) Willd., A. leiocalyx (Domin) Pedley
(Mimosaceae), Pultenaea villosa Willd. (Fabaceae) and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii A. Lee (Xanthorrhoeaceae). A sparse
to dense, varied herb layer of numerous grasses and ferns was also present. The host plant, Stephania japonica
(Thunb.) Miers var. discolor (Menispermaceae) was relatively common in the more shadier, sheltered areas along

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T.J. Hawkeswood- Herpetogramma

creeklines.
C. Host plant of H. cynaralis
Stephania japonica var. discolor (Menispermaceae) is a scrambling vine with heart-shaped, peltate leaves, the flowers
are small and greenish, arranged in axillary compound umbels; the species flowers during summer and later plants
produce shiny yellow and red fruits measuring about 5-10 mm wide. The vine occurs commonly in rainforests and
sheltered gullies, especially near the sea.

Discussion
A. Larval food plants of Herpetogramma species
Previously nothing appears to have been recorded on the biology and host plants of this obscure
little native moth, H. cynaralis. However, related species are serious pests of agricultural plants
and for this reason knowledge of others in the genus can be insightful. The best known species of
the genus is H. licarsisalis (Walker), commonly known as the tropical grass webworm, which has
an extensive global distribution nowadays. It is widely distributed in northern Australia, south-east
Asia, Pacific Islands such as New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, Japan, Hawaii (but not
continental USA) as well as central and northern Africa (e.g. Tweedie, 1933; Delobel &
Gutieerez, 1981; Common, 1990; Tashiro, 1976; Barrion & Litsinger, 1987; Smithers, 1998;
Hardwick et al., 2000; Willoughby & Barns, 2002). This species was also recorded as a recent
introduction to the Maltese Islands by Sammut (2005). Recently extensive populations have been
recorded in southern Spain (Goater & Knill Jones, 1999) and a single adult specimen has been
recorded on the Isle of Wight (Goater & Knill Jones, 1999) indicating its continued expansion
over the globe. Herpetogramma licarsisalis is an important pest of pastures and amenity turf in
the tropics where larvae feed on the leaves and crowns of a wide range of grass species including
Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov., Paspalum dilatatum Poiret, Cynodon dactylon (L.)
Pers., Lolium perenne L. and Lolium multidflorum Lam., Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae)(e.g. Davis,
1968; Reinert, 1976; Tashiro, 1976; Murdoch & Tashiro, 1976; Murdoch & Mitchell, 1978;
Grant, 1982; Tashiro et al., 1983; Barrion & Litsinger, 1987; Ward, 1997; Hardwick et al., 2000;
Jenson & Cameron, 2004). Similarly, another closely related species, H. phaeopteralis Guenee is
an annual pest of turfgrass in the southern States of the USA and many islands in the Caribbean.
Its hosts include Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kunze, Cynodon spp., Zoysia spp.,
Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack., Axonopus compressus (Swartz) Beauv. and Paspalum
notatum Flgg (e.g. Reinert & Busey, 1983; Reinert, 2008). Yet another species, H. bipunctalis
(Fabricius) from Africa is a pest of Amaranthus spp. (Amaranthaceae)(e.g. Tingle et al., 1978;
Agunloye & Osisanya, 1985 - as Psara) but it is also recorded from a wide range of other
dicotyledonous plant species e.g. Brassica sp. (Brassicaceae), Capsicum sp. and Solanum nigrum
L. (Solanaceae) and Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae)(Solis, 2006) as well as monocotyledonous
plants, e.g. Xanthosoma spp., (Araceae) and Asparagus sp.(Asparagaceae)(Solis, 2006).
Herpetogramma basalis (Walker) has been recorded recently [as Psara] on Spinacia oleracea L.
(Chenopodiaceae) in India (Rajesh et al., 2008). As regards H. stultalis (Walker), this species has
been recorded as feeding as larvae on Alternanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae) and Coleus sp.
(sic)[Solenostemon sp.] (Lamiaceae) in Fiji (Hinckley, 1964). Two other Herpetogramma
species are known to feed on ferns in the larval stage, viz. H. theseusalis (Walker) on Onoclea
sensibilis L. (Dryopteridaceae) and Thelypteris palustris Schott. (Thelypteridaceae)(Morse,
2009), and H. aeglealis (Walker) on Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott
(Aspidiaceae)(Ruelmann et al., 1988). Herpetogramma sp. near H. licarsisalis was found to be a
common feeder on Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae) in Papua New Guinea (Novotny et al., 2003).
As far as I am aware, after reviewing the literature on larval hosts of this group, the
Menispermaceae have not been recorded previously for any Herpetogramma species, however it
is interesting to note that moths of the family Noctuidae especially of the genus Eudocima (=
Othreis) are known to feed extensively on Stephania japonica and its varieties in the larval stage
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in Australia and south-east Asia (e.g. Sands et al., 1991; Muniappan et al., 1994; Fay, 1994,
1996; Bhumannavar & Viraktamath, 2001; Reddy et al., 2005, 2006).
B. Parasites of Herpetogramma species
A wide range of Hymenoptera are known to parasitize the larvae/pupae of Herpetogramma
species. Concerning H. stultalis (Walker), Hinckley (1964) recorded Apanteles sp., Chelonus sp.
(Braconidae) and Trathala flavoorbitalis Cameron (Ichneumonidae) as larval parasites of this
species in Fiji, while Verma et al. (2002) recorded Elasmus brevicornis Gahan (Eulophidae) as a
parasite of this species in Malaysia. Morse (2009) recorded Alabagrus texanus Cresson
(Braconidae) as a common parasitoid of H. theseusalis (Walker) in the USA. Tingle et al. (1978)
recorded Chelonus texanus Cresson (Braconidae) as a parasite of H. bipunctalis (Fabricius) in
Florida, USA. Davis (1968) noted that the foremost of the parasites of H. licarsisalis at Hawaii
was the tiny Trichogramma semifumatum (Perkins)(Trichogrammatidae) which parasitized up to
96% of the eggs of this species; other parasites of the larvae were Casinaria infesta (Cresson),
Cremastus flavoorbitalis (Cameron)(both Ichneumonidae), Meteorus laphygamae Viereck
(Braconidae) and Eucelatoria armigera (Coq.)(Tachinidae: Diptera). The record of
Trichogramma wasps emerging from pupae of H. cynaralis at Brisbane is therefore of some
interest as it is in accordance with the findings of Davis (1968).
C. Notes on life stages
It is interesting to note the differences between the larval coloration and size of H. cynaralis and
the most common species, H. licarsisalis. The latter species has larvae which are variably brown
to green in coloration with sometimes a rose tint over part or most of the abdomen. When fully
grown the larvae averaged 20 mm in length with a head capsule of 1.8 mm diameter (Tashiro,
1976). According to my observations, H. cynaralis larvae possess a black head capsule, a black
thorax with two black-brown spots on the thorax and an abdomen of a dull yellow coloration;
body length of two larvae were 12.2 and 12.0 mm and head capsule width were 1.35 mm and 1.3
mm respectively.
Further observations on the earlier life stages are necessary to determine if H. cynaralis should be
placed in another genus based on differing morphology and food plant preferences or retained in
the genus Herpetogramma.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are expressed to Mr Kelvyn L. Dunn of Victoria, for kindly commenting on this paper before publication. I
would also like to thank Dr F.R. Wylie of the Queensland Forestry Institute (QFI), Indooroopilly, Queensland,
Australia and the late Mr M. De Baar, formerly of the same institution, for allowing access to microscopes and to the
insect collection under their care during my studies in Brisbane during the 1980s. My material of H. cynaralis was
compared with named specimens in the collection of the QFI.
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Date of publication: 15 February 2011

Copyright: Dr T.J. Hawkeswood
Editor-in-Chief: Dr T.J. Hawkeswood (www.calodema.com)
(Published as hard paper copy edition as well as electronic pdf)

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