Banisia argutula Whalley, 1976

Martinez, Jose I., Crane, Jonathan H., Wasielewski, Jeff, Miller, Jacqueline Y. & Carrillo, Daniel, 2019, Lepidoptera pests of sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen) in south Florida, with some comments on life history and natural control, Insecta Mundi 739 (739), pp. 1-26 : 12-13

Banisia argutula Whalley, 1976

Banisia argutula was described by Whalley (1976) based on Le Moult and Klages specimens in the BMNH. Banisia argutula has been confused with B. myrsusalis Walker since 1990 in south Florida ( Myers et al. 2008). It also looks similar to B. aldabrana Fryer , which is found in Africa ( Fryer 1912). Both of these other species of Banisia can be distinguished from B. argutula by their male genitalia ( Martinez et al. 2017).

Description. Egg. Conical and reddish orange with white ridges before eclosion, after which they change to orange with horizontal red wine lines. Larva. First instar orange with gray spots, and a black band on mesothorax through to the dorsal view and dark brown head. Second instar white with black spots; head brown; mesothoracic band as in first instar. Third and fourth instars yellow with black spots; thorax and head copper. Length 8.2–10.9 mm ( Fig. 1H ). Pre-pupa. Similar to last instar but paler and wider. Adult. Sexually dimorphic, the male smaller and darker than the female. Wing expanse: males 15.4–17.9 mm, females 18.1–19.3 mm. Wings. Dorsal surface: Forewings grayish-brown with dark-brown strigiform markings and two translucent elongated spots in postdiscal area, anterior spot larger than posterior, males sometimes without translucent spots. Costal and median areas orangishbrown. Hindwings with black strigiform markings, no translucent areas. Ventral surface: Both wings pale-gray with black strigiform markings surrounded by pink lines. Head. Antennae: Diminutively ciliate. Vertex: Grayish-brown. Mouthparts: Labial palp copper; third segment smaller than second, with pinkish-purple dot on the tip. Body. Thorax and abdomen: Grayish-brown above and pale-gray below. Legs: Grayish-brown ( Fig. 2H ).

Distribution. Banisia argutula is native to the Neotropics. This moth has been found in French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname ( Whalley 1976). Martinez et al. (2017) reported this species from the USA in south Florida based on some specimens previously misidentified as B. myrsusalis .

Hosts. Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen ( Martinez et al. 2017).

Natural history. Adults are active almost all year, mainly during the rainy season (late May to late October in south Florida). The females lay eggs primarily on the base of the floral buds or open flowers, but will also lay eggs on twigs, leaf buds, and on the fruit. Upon emerging from the egg (after four days), the larva chews a hole in a floral bud, enters the flower, and spins a silk plug covering the entrance hole. While the larva feeds, it covers the walls of flowers or fruits with silk. The larval stage lasts about 12–16 days. Pupation occurs mainly on fruits and flowers. Pupal stage lasts 17–20 days.

Damage. The larva chews holes in the base of floral buds or mature flowers, enters the flower, and consumes everything except the sepals. A single larva is able to join together several flowers and floral buds using silk to avoid exposure to predators. Larvae can also feed on leaves rolling them together as well, or bore into the fruit. It can complete its development in the rolled leaves, damaged flowers or inside of the fruit. When flowers are infested with larvae, they turn reddish brown and larval excrement is evident before drying completely.

Management. Chemical insecticides have not been thoroughly investigated. There are many natural enemies that help to control B. argutula (e.g. orb weaver spiders, lizards, birds).

Figures

Figure 1. Larvae of Lepidoptera pests of sapodilla. A) Dichrorampha sapodilla Heppner. B) Comotia torsicornis Dyar. C) Holcocera crassicornella Dietz. D) Zamagiria laidion (Zeller). E) Electrostrymon angelia (Hewitson). F) Phidotricha erigens Ragonot. G) Banisia myrsusalis Walker. H) Banisia argutula Whalley. I) Pyroderces badia (Hodges). J) Erinnyis ello (Linnaeus).

Figure 2. Adults of Lepidoptera pests of sapodilla. The unlabeled images in the top half of the figure are to scale, whereas the labeled images in the bottom half of the figure have been resized. A) Dichrorampha sapodilla Heppner. B) Comotia torsicornis Dyar. C) Holcocera crassicornella Dietz. D) Zamagiria laidion (Zeller). E) Pyroderces badia (Hodges). F) Phidotricha erigens Ragonot. G) Banisia myrsusalis Walker. H) Banisia argutula Whalley. I) Electrostrymon angelia (Hewitson). J) Erinnyis ello (Linnaeus).