Daulia afralis Walker
- Family: Crambidae
- Subfamily: Spilomelinae
- Genus: Daulia
- Distribution: W. Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak. Lowland primary & disturbed forest <480m Possible range India (Nilgiris, Utar Pradesh, Assam), Bhutan, Burma, Indonesia,Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan.
- Habitat: Due to confusion of identification this distribution needs revision.
- Wing Length: 8mm
Taxonomy
The female holotype of Daulia afralis Walker, 1859e: 975 from Sarawak is in the Oxford U.M.N.H. The type #925 was collected by A.R. Wallace.
There is confusion in the literature between Daulia afralis, Girtexa argentuosalis Swinhoe, 1890b: 286 & Daulia aurantialis Hampson, 1896: 221.
The holotype of D. afralis closely resembles a specimen in the HSB-Coll., named as Daulia aurantialis.
We therefore illustrate those two specimens as D. afralis.
Hampson (1896: 220), considered Girtexa argentuosalis Swinhoe, 1890b 286. TL Burma, (Rangoon) as a syn. of D. afralis Walker 1859 975, a syn. accepted in LepIndex & Globiz. Unfortunately Hampson's rather small text fig. 125 illustration of D.afralis is not of that sp. it is of Girtexa argentuosalis Swinhoe, 1890b but his description of D. aurantialis fits D. afralis Walker 1859 very closely.
Thus we consider Daulia aurantialis Hampson, 1896: 221 is a junior subjective syn. of D. afralis Walker 1859 975 and D. argentuosalis (Swinhoe, 1890b: 286) is a good sp.
Description
The bright orange wings are richly adorned with silver fasciae which curve across the wings in a similar manner to some Musotiminae. The FW has a sub-termenal silver band flanked proximally by a narrow brown band. Post-medially is an another silverline restricted to the central area and with a short projection towards the apex. There are other short silver lines, medially, antemedially and post basally. The HW has two similar, silver, sub termenal lines flanked by brown as well as a silver antemedial band. They have long orange tegulae silver scaled at their bases and an orange head and patagium. Males have an elongate orange abdomen with pale intersegmental bands and prominent valvae flanked by long fawn anal hair pencils. Several authors illustrate specimens as this sp. which do not resemble the afralis holotype. We provisionally illustrate those morphotypes under Daulia [Girtexa] argentuosalis Swinhoe, 1890b Amongst the probable incorrect identifications are Kim et al. (2012) and Wang & Speidel (2000: 183).
Life History
The larvae have been reported to feed on the flowers or capsules of Aeginetia indica (Orobanchaceae), an obligate parasite of grasses. Robinson et al. (2001: 140).
References
- Wang & Speidel, W. (2000) Guide to the Insects in Taiwan.(19) Pyraloidea (Pyralidae, Crambidae), Shu Shin Books, Taipei, Taiwan: 183, figs.
- Robinson, G. S., Ackery, P. R., Kitching, I. J., Beccaloni, G. W. & Hernández, L.M. (2001) Hostplants of the moth and butterfly caterpillars of the Oriental Region. 744 pp. BMNH & Southdene Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur.
- Kim, S.-S., Bae Y.-S., & Byun, B.-K. (2012) Discovery of Two Unrecorded Species of the Family Crambidae (Lepidoptera) from Korea, Korean J. Appl. Entomol. 51 439-442.
- Swinhoe, C. (1890b) The Moths of Burma, Pt. 2. Trans. ent. Soc. Lond.: 201-296, pls. 19-20.Swinhoe, C. (1890b) The Moths of Burma, Pt. 2. Trans. ent. Soc. Lond.: 201-296, pls. 6-8.
- Walker, F. (1859e) Pyralides, In; List Spec. Lepid. Ins. Coll. B. M., Cat. Lepid. Heterocera. Ser. 4, 19: 799-1036.