Homaledra heptathalama Busck

Hayden, James E., 2021, Two new species of palm-leaf skeletonizers (Lepidoptera: Pterolonchidae: Homaledra Busck), Insecta Mundi 2021 (859), pp. 1-24 : 19

Homaledra heptathalama Busck

( Fig. 48 )

Material examined. USA: Florida: Alachua Co. : 1♂: Austin Carey Forest , 12–17-IX-1975, Malaise trap, G.B. Fairchild ; Collier Co.: 1♂: Collier Co. St. Pk., 8-I-1988, J.B. Heppner, MGCL slide 5029 (wings) ; Flagler Co.: 1 larva: Palm Coast , 29.6594, −81.2419, 9-I-2019, Sabal palmetto, M. Cain, D. McColl, C. Hall ; Franklin Co.: 1♂: Apalachicola Natl. Fst., nr. Hickory Lndg. Cmpgd. , NFR 101B, 1-IX-1991, H.D. Baggett ; Highlands Co.: 1♂: Archbold Biol. Res. Sta. flight trap, 9-IX-1979, H.V. Weems, S. Halkin, MGCL slide 4260 ; Indian River Co.: Vero Beach , 2-V-2002, Sabal palmetto, D.H. Baquerizo, L 238 ; Jefferson Co.: 1♂: Goose Pasture , 31-VIII-1991, H.D. Baggett ; Levy Co.: 1♂: St. Rd. 24 west of Archer , 29.50446, −82.56953, on Serenoa repens , 12-VIII-2018, J. Hayden, E18-4294 ; 1 larva: Archer , 29.5045, −82.5699, 25-X-2018, Serenoa repens, J. Hayden, J. Awad, H. Rohrer ; 2 larvae: same data except 31-XII-2018, J. Hayden ; 1 larva: Levy Co.: Cedar Key , 29.2056, −83.0622, 31-III-2018, Serenoa repens, J. Hayden, J. Awad ; Marion Co.: 1♂: Ocala Nat’l. Forest , 2–5-V-1979, insect flight trap, G.B. Fairchild ; Martin Co.: 1♂: Jonathan Dickinson St. Pk. 8–10-VIII-1999, J.B. Heppner ; Orange Co.: 1 larva: Lake Buena Vista , 27-III-1978, Livistona chinensis, F.L. Ware ; Putnam Co.: 17♂: Welaka For. Cons. Sta., Welaka Site 5, slash pine-palmetto flatwoods, 28–31-VII-1986, J.B. Heppner ; 1♂: same data, MGCL slide 3301 ; 1♂: same data, MGCL slide 5030 (wings) ; Sarasota Co.: 1♂: Myakka St. Park, 2–3-V-1986, H.D. Baggett ; St. Lucie Co.: 3 larvae: White City, Savannahs Park , 22-III-1979, Sabal palmetto, D.H. Habeck ; Volusia Co.: 1♂: Tomoka State Park , 22–25-V-2000, J.B. Heppner ; Wakulla Co.: 1♂: Ochlockonee State Park , 22–24-IV-1991, J.B. Heppner .

Host plants. Sabal palmetto , Serenoa repens , and once on Livistona chinensis .

Figures

Figures 48–58. Habitus of other Homaledra species and larval damage. 48) Homaledra heptathalama male (FL, Levy Co., FSCA). 49) H. octagonella male (FL, Putnam Co., FSCA). 50) Damage of H. sabalella on date palm (Phoenix sp.) (FL, Collier Co.). 51) Damage of H. sabalella on Serenoa repens (FL, Lake Co.), with broad frass tunnel. 52) Damage of H. sabalella on Serenoa repens (FL, Levy Co.), dense leaf-tying silk indicated. 53) Damage of H. howardi on Cocos nucifera (FL, Miami-Dade Co.). 54) Detail of same with larva indicated. 55) H. howardi on Livistona chinensis, showing damage on a broad-leaved palm (FL, Miami-Dade Co.). 56) Damage of H. knudsoni on Sabal palmetto (FL, Alachua Co., Gainesville). 57) Same (FL, Alachua Co., Micanopy). 58) Active leading end of frass tunnel (indicated) of H. knudsoni (FL, Alachua Co., Gainesville). Scales = 5 mm.