Aquatic and semi-aquatic Lepidoptera in Argentina: updated list, distribution and life habits

Abstract

A preliminary inventory is provided with data on the distribution, hosts and habitat of the aquatic and semi-aquatic Lepidoptera recorded in Argentina. It is based on an intensive survey of bibliographic data, specimens deposited in the Collection Institute - Fundación Miguel Lillo (IFML) and own records of field surveys. The objective of this paper is to present the diversity of families, genera and species of aquatic Lepidoptera that have been recorded to date in Argentina, providing information on geographic distribution, hosts, habits and biology. It includes data on 11 families (Coelophoridae, Cosmopterigidae, Crambidae, Erebidae, Gracillaridae, Momphidae, Pterophoridae, Pyralidae, Nepticulidae, Sphingidae, and Tortricidae), 26 genera, and 43 species. The subfamily Acentropinae (Crambidae) is the most diverse with 11 genera and 19 species for Argentina. The greatest diversity recorded were: the semi-aquatic genus Paracles (Erebidae) with 9 recorded species and Parapoynx (Crambidae) with 5 aquatic species. The genera and species of: Aulacodes sp. (Guenee, 1854), Argyractoides sp. (Lange, 1956), Oligostigmoides sp. (Lange, 1956), Oxyelophila sp. (Forbes, 1922), Petrophila cronialis (Druce, 1896), Petrophila longipennis (Hampson, 1906) and Usingeriessa sp. Lange 1956 (Crambidae). An update of the Acentropinae genera recorded for the Neotropical region and Argentina is also provided.