Paysandisia archon (Burmeister, 1880)

Ríos, Sergio D. & González, Jorge M., 2011, A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Paraguay, Zootaxa 3055, pp. 43-61 : 55

Paysandisia archon (Burmeister, 1880)

( Fig. 15 )

Castnia archon Burmeister, 1880

Taxonomic history. Originally described in 1880 from Argentina in the genus Castnia , it was later described as Castnia josepha by Oberthür (1914). Houlbert (1918) had not seen the archon specimens described by Burmeister and placed the species in the now invalid genus Orthia . He also placed josepha in the genus Paysandisia ( Houlbert 1918; Sarto 2002). The first images of the species were published by Jörgensen (1930). Some authors like Bourquin (1930, 1933) and Breyer (1931) noticed that archon and josepha were actually the same species ( Sarto 2002). Miller (1995) treated the populations of Argentina and Uruguay as separate subspecies, as archon archon and archon josepha respectively. But Lamas (1995) did not see any purpose in keeping them as two different taxa and considered josepha just a synonym. A detailed account of these historic remarks can be found in Sarto (2002).

Distribution. The species appears to be restricted to South East Brazil, Northern Argentina, Western Uruguay and Paraguay ( Miller 1986, Montagud 2004, Sarto 2002, González & Stünning 2004). The species was introduced from Argentina to Europe apparently between 1985 and 1995 and became well established as a pest of several palm species ( Aguilar et al. 2001; González & Stünning 2004; Sarto 2002, 2003; Montagud 2004). The presence of the species in Paraguay has been confirmed to us by G. Lamas and V. Sarto (pers. comm.) and was reported by Montagud (2004) and Sarto (2002). Sarto (2002) mentions that the Paraguayan Chaco is part of the range of the native habitat for the species. It is highly possible that Prometheus archon could be found along the south eastern region of the country (Misiones and Itapúa Departments), because there are some vegetation patches, known as “Sabanas de la Mesopotamia ” ( Guyra Paraguay 2005) which have a striking similarity to the Pampas, Argentina, where the species is frequently found.

Biology and behaviour: It has been reported attacking several palm species ( Arecaceae ) in the genera Latania , Chamaerops and Phoenix ( Miller 1986) . It has also been detected attacking other Arecaceae , such as Trachycarpus , Trithrinax , Phoenix , Chamaerops , Butia , Washingtonia , Brahea , Livistona and Syagrus ( Sarto 2002) .

Material examined. PRESIDENTE HAYES: The only Paraguayan specimen known to the authors is from Fortín Nanawa, and is deposited at the NHM, its label reads “S. America: Paraguayan Chaco, Nanahua[sic], III.1928, Coll.G.S.Carter” (V. Sarto, pers. comm.).

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 16. Adults of Castniidae. 10. Ceretes marcelserres (Godart), 3, Misiones, Argentina (CFP); 11, Ceretes marcelserres (Godart), Ƥ, Misiones, Argentina (CFP); 12. Prometheus cochrus (Fabricius), 3, Brazil (FMNH); 13. Gazera heliconioides micha (Druce), 3, Sapucay, Paraguay (MNHNPY); 14. Frostetola gramivora (Schaus), 3, Alto Paraná, Paraguay (DZUP); 15. Paysandisia archon (Burmeister), 3, Spain (RVC); 16. Yagra fonscolombe (Godart), 3, Brazil (FMNH).