Ecology of aquatic Lepidoptera (Crambidae: Nymphulinae) in South Carolina, USA

Abstract

An ecological study was conducted in May and June of 1995 and 1996 in South Carolina to determine the factors associated with distributions of aquatic Lepidoptera (Crambidae: Nymphulinae). Larvae were found at 65 lotic and lentic sites in three ecoregions (Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain). Nine species of aquatic Lepidoptera were collected from 12 species of aquatic vascular macrophytes. One to six plant species were used as hosts, depending on the species of lepidopteran; however, the number of host plants used by a lepidopteran was significantly correlated with the lepidopteran's frequency of occurrence. Significant habitat associations were found for five species. Langessa nomophilalis (Dyar) was found under the widest range of temperature and width and occurred in both lotic and lentic habitats. Munroessa icciusalis (Walker) was found in lotic and lentic habitats and had the widest range of recorded depths. Parapoynx maculalis (Clemens) occurred at stream sites with lentic-like conditions. Parapoynx obscuralis (Grote) occupied the widest range of pH and was restricted to lotic habitats, and P. seminealis (Walker) was found in both lotic and lentic habitats. Additional species, collected at fewer than 8% of sites, included M. gyralis, P. allionealis, Synclita obliteralis, and S. tinealis. Overall, the distributions of aquatic Lepidoptera in South Carolina were nonrandom and predictable on the basis of habitat characteristics.