Jou rnal of the Lepidopterists' Society 57(4),2003, 270-273

SCLEROCONA ACUTELLA (EVERSMANN) (: ), NATURALIZED ALONG THE EASTE RN SEABOARD

D AVID L. WAGi\lER Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, U SA, E-mail: aavid,wagner@uconn,edu

DOUG C. FERGUSON I Systematics Entomology Laboratory, USDA, Agricultural Research Selvice, c/o National Museum of Natural HistOlY, Washington, DC 20560-0168, USA

AND

JOHK D. GLASE R 6660 Loch Hill Road, Baltimore, Mmyland 21239, USA

ABST~CT. Selerocona (lcutella (Eversmann), a Eurasian previously undocumented from North America, is reported hom 1410- cahlleslI1 Connecticut, Massachusetts, Matyland, and Rhode Island, The first North Amcriean specimen was captured in 1984 at a coastal 10- (:at1On m Bnstol, Massachusetts, Capture and rearing records suggest the feeds on common reed , australis (Cav,) Trin. e x Steud. (Poaceac), 111 freshwater and brackish wetlands, Given the increasing abundance of Phmgmites along water courses and some upland habitats, Scleracona stands to become one of the region's most common \wetland . Additional key words: alien species, Phmgrnites, biocontrol, wetlands,

Sclerocona acutella is a large, easily recognizable, Sclericona aeuteUus, Marion , 1957:82. wetland pyraustine, It is native to Europe and Asia, oc­ Sclerocon(l acutelllls , Palm, 1986:231. Scierocona aeutella, Karsholt & Razowski (eds.), 1996:194, curring from Spain and Sicily northward to Great Britain (as a stray) and Denmark (rare) east to Siberia, Diagnostic description. Length of forewing Japan, and China (Inoue et al. 1982, Palm 1986, (males): 11..5-12..5 mm , The light brown adults of this Karsholt & Razowski 1996, Parenti 2000, Siberian Zo­ species superficially resemble their namesake, ological Museum 2002), Ongoing surveys of Lepi­ acutella (Walker) of eastern North America (see doptera in southern New England and Maryland re­ Munroe 1976: pI. 1, figs, 67-71), but Sclerocona adults vealed the presence of Sclerocona in a variety of have much longer porrect palpi, glossy white wing wetlands along the eastern sea board of the United fringe scales, a pale costa, and lack the distinctive pale States, including estuaries, marshes, fens, swamps, and intervenular streaks of the forewing of Nascia, The lake and pond margins, We assume that the species unique forewing venation (Fig, ,5 ) of S, acu.tella males is was introduced accidentally, but because larvae feed probably diagnostic within our fauna, The cuhital stem on Phragmites australis (Cav, ) Trin, ex Steud, bends deeply into the postelior side of the discal cell (Poaceae), an aggressively invasive plant in many and baek again, redUCing the proximal half of the cell to northeastern wetlands, there remains the possibility only half the width of the distal half. This makes space, that it was purposefillly introduced, although we were as it were, for a curiously enlarged and modified, cornu­ unable to locate any literature indicating such, copia-shaped retinaculum (Figs, .3 , 4), which opens dis­ Voucher specimens are deposited in the following in­ tally and provides a shelter on the wing surface just in­ stitutions and personal collections: John D, Glaser side its opening for a small mat of darker, speCialized (IGC ), Lloyd Center for Environmental Science scales of uncertain function (perhaps the structure and (LCES), University of Connecticut (UCONN), and Uni­ modified scales serve to disperse a sex pheromone) , versity of Rhode Island Biological Control Lab (URI), The male genitalia (Fig, 6) are unlike those of the Selected references and a diagnostic deSCription follow. nearctic Nascia acutella but show surprising similarity to those of Oenobotys Munroe (Crambidae: Pyrausti­ Sclerocona aClltella (Eversmann) nae) (Munroe 1976: pI. A, figs, 6, 7; Ferguson et al. Crambus acutellus Eversmann, 1842:.563, 1991: figs, 20.3 a, c), having a similar fanlike cluster of Scierocona aeulella MeYlick, 11l90:44:1, MeYlick proposed Sclerocona processes on the inner face of the valve that resemble with CramiJus (Jcutellus Eversrnann as the only included species, spatulate scales, each of which is expanded and bi- or trifurcate at its outer end, However, Scierocona I Deceased. acu.tella also has a separate, prominent, spinose scle- VOLUME 57, NUMBER 4 271

FIGS. 1--4. Sclerocona acutella. 1, Adult male, dorsal. 2, Adult male, ventral. 3, Retinaculum (arrow). 4, Cleared forewing. rite (4-,5 spines) embedded in the valve beneath (or be­ & A. Valley, MV & blklt (1 )(UCONN). Massachusetts: Barnstable hind) the fanlike structure as viewed on the slide. The Co., Bourne, 23.vi-21.vii.l995, M. Mello, blklt trap (3) (LCES); BJis­ tol Co. , South Dartmouth, Lloyd Center, 2.viU984, M Mello, blklt uncus is elongate, smooth, and regularly tapered from (1) (LCES); same locality, 26.vi.1989, M Mello, blklt (1) (UCONN); base to tip. The aedeagus has almost no sclerotized in­ Hampden Co., Brimfield, 14.vi.l996, M Mello, blklt trap (1) (LCES); Hampshire Co., Amherst, 7 May, 1999 (larva), adult issued circa 15 clusions (cornuti). The everted vesica shows only one June, 1999, Lisa Tewksbury and Geoffrey Balme (l)(URI); Suffolk blind sidepocket (diverticulum) at about its midpoint, Co., Boston, Thompson Island, 24.vi.2002, M Mello, blklt trap (3) and a small, low, weakly sclerotized hump farther out. (LCES). Maryland: Dorchester Co. , Taylor's Island Wildlife Man­ agement Area, 14.vi.1998, J.D. Glaser, blklt (4)(JGC, USNM); Har­ Distribution. Connecticut: Fairfield Co., Danbury, Tarrywile ford Co., Bush Wildlife Management Area, 5. vi.1999, J.D Glaser, Park, 8.vi .2001 , D. L. Wagner (1) (UCONN); Litchfield Co., Canaan, blklt (9)(JGC, USNM ); Worcester Co., Isle of Wight, l.vi.2000, J.D. Robbins Swamp, The Nature Conservancy Hollenbeck Preserve. Glaser, blacklight traps (26) (TCC, USNM ); Hickory Point Cypress 1/2.vii.1997, M. Volovski (l)( UCONN); Salisbury, Moore Brook, Swamp, 29.v.2002, I.Glase r, blklt (l)(JCC). Rhode Island: Newport 8/9.viU994, D. L. Wagner, V Giles & M. e. Thomas, MV & blklt Co., Tiverton Pocassett Swamp, 25.vi.2001 , M Mello, blklt trap (1 ); (l)(UCONN); same locality, 23-30.vi.1995, D. Wagner, J TroLlern­ Little Compton, 25.vi.2001, M Ylello, blklt trap (I )(LCES). Trend, D. Primozkh & M.e. Thomas, \,IIV & blklt (7)( UCONN); Sal­ isbury, Twin Lakes, 8/9.vii . .1994, D. L. Wagner, V Giles & \,II. C. Early stages. Parenti (2000) and Robinson et al. Thomas, MV & blklt (l)(UCONN'); same locality, 14 . viU~J85, V Giles (2002) list Phragrnites australis as the host for Sclero-

5 6

FIGS . .'5-6. Scierocona acutella. 5, vYing venation. 6, Male genitalia. 272 JOURNAL OF THE LEPlDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY cona acutella. Lisa Tewksbury and Geoffrey Balme (pers. com.) reared a single adult from a larva collected in the lower stem of Phragmites, on May 8-9, 1999, near Amherst, Massachusetts. The Phragmites stem was dead and broken; presumably it had been alive through the fall of the previous season. The single larva is believed to have pupated without further feeding. Common recd, Phragmites australis, grows in b~th freshwater and brackish wetlands, which is consistent with the range oflocalities represented among our col­ lections. Label data suggest the species is univoltine. Records from southern New England, where the species is best known, range from14 June to 21 July (n = 23), with most collections falling within the last week of June and the first half of July. The Maryland speci­ mens were collected between 1 and 14 June; the four 1999 from the latter date being slightly worn, indicating that Scleracona flies earlier in Maryland. . 2000,2002 Distribution in eastern North America. North 1998 American records are from both inland and coastal wetlands from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, FIG. 7. Distribution of Sc/erocona acutella along eastern and Rhode Island. The first North American specimen seaboard. Locality data appears in text. is believed to be a male taken by Mark Mello in South Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, at the Lloyd Science Center in 1984. Although the moth cer­ gamma (Esper), and (Hubner) are tainly is distributed more widely, correspondence with Phragmites, Phalarus, or other grass-feeders that are other micro lepidopterists suggests that it may not have common in coastal habitats in Europe. The recently spread much beyond the range we circumscribe here. established Oligia strigilis (L.) reported by Handfield We have written to (microlepidoptera) collectors in (1999) also fits this pattern (J. Don Lafontaine pers. Maine (Tony Roberts), Michigan (George Balogh and com.). Mikkola and Lafontaine (1994) suggest that the Brian Scholtens), Ohio (Steve Passoa), Ontario (Jean­ turf and soil being picked up in shipyards, e.g., on the Francois Landry), and Quebec (Louis Hanfield)­ bottoms of large shipping containers, could be respon­ none have yet taken this species. sible for the recent spate of European coastal moth in­ Etymology. The generic name is a compound of troductions along our eastern seaboard. Scleracona the Greek adjective sclera, meaning tough, hard, and aCl.ltella , being a Phragmites feeder, is yet another can­ the Latin masculine noun, conus (or the Greek konos), didate for their list. ohviously referring to the cone-shaped retinaculum. Phragmites australis is the focus of conservation ef­ Meyrick (a classics scholar) intended Scleracona to be forts oy-{ both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but for dif­ feminine, spelling it with a feminine ending and ferent reasons. In parts of Europe it is a local, pro­ changing the species name from acutellus to the femi­ tected species that has even been the focus of nine form , acutella. We mention this because some au­ restoration efforts (e.g., Skuhravy 1978, Ostendorp thors have continued to use acutellus in combination 1989, Tscharntke 1990, 1992). On this continent, the with the feminine generic name. plant is considered an invasive species that is overrun­ Remarks. Given the broad distribution of the moth ning wetlands, establishing almost pure monocultures along the eastern seaboard and the scant collections of of reed in coastal and inland wetlands that previously pyraloids, the moth surely has been established for were floristically diverse (Garcia 1998, Chambers et al. some time on the East Coast. Short of drawing infer­ 1999; Orson 1999, Saltonstall 2002). Given the new­ ences from detailcd population genetic studies, there found successes of Phragmites, we expect that adult would seem to be no way to establish when, where, or Scleracona will be become one of the most abundant how this species was introduced. moths in the vicinity of wetlands in many northeastern Mikkola and Lafontaine (1994) made the observa­ states. If the moth proves to be a speCialist of Ph rag­ tion that several recently introduced moths in the mites, it might have a future as a hiocontrol agent in Northeast, e.g., unanimis (Hubner), A. ophio- programs seeking to curb the spread of this grass. VOLUME .57, NUMBER 4 273

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS M EYRIGK, E. 1890. On the classification of the Pyralidina of the European fauna. Trans. Entomo!. Soc. London 1890:439~ 492. Our friend and colleague, Doug Ferguson, passed away on 4 No­ MIKKOLA, K. & J. D. LAFONTAINE. 1994. Recent introductions of vember 2002. He had assembled a partial draft of this paper in 2001. riparian noctuid moths from the Palearctic region to North It is with deep sense of loss and admiration for Doug that we com­ America, with the first report of Aparnea unanirnis (Hubner) plete this small paper. Rene Twarkins prepared the line drawing of the (: Amphipyrinae). J. Lepid. Soc. 48:121~127 wing venation and helped assemble the figures. Mark Mello sent us MU NR OE, E. 1976. . (in part). Fascicle 13.2A. The moths datu from his numerous collections of Sclerocona. Lisa Tewksburv and of America north of Mexico. E. W. Classey Limited and Wedge Geoffrey Hahne snpplied observations on their collection and rdaring Entomological Research Foundation, London, England. 78 pp., of Sclerocona. Several students, friends, and colleagues helped with 4 col pIs., 8 bw pIs. the acquisition of the Connecticut specimens: Valerie Giles, Jon ORSON , R. A. 1999. A paleoecological assessment of Phragmites Trouern-Trend, Dave Primozich, Michael Thomas, and M~nty australis in New England tidal marshes: changes in plant com­ Volovski. David CTimaldi and Tam Nguyen took the image of the male munity structure during the last few millennia. BioI. Invas. genitalic capsule using a Nikon D1X digital camera with an Infinity (c) l:l49~] ,58. K2 lens, illuminated with fiber optic flashes from MicrOptics, Inc: We OSTENDORP, W. 1989. 'Die-back' of reeds in Europe-a critical thank Peter Touhey and Alma Solis for recovering host rearing infor­ view of the literature. Aquat. Bot. 35:5~26. mation from a Systematic Entomology Lahoratory database and re­ PALM, E. 1986. Nordeuropas Pyralider. Danmarks Dyreliv Bind 3. laying it to us. Steven Passoa helped us track down European and Fauna B0ger, Copenhagen, Denmark. 287 pp., 8 col. pIs. Asian literature. Funding for surveys that resulted in captures of PARENT!, u. 2000. A gUide to the Microlepidoptera of Europe. Sclerocona to DLW was proVided by the Connecticut Chapter of The M Us eo Regionale di Scienze N aturali Torino, Stenstrup, Den­ Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Department of Environmental mark. 432 pp., 132 col. pIs., 24 bw pIs. Protection, and Connecticut State Museum of Natural History. ROBINSON, G., P. R. ACKERY, I. J . KITCHING, G. W. BECCALONI & 1.. M. HERNANDEZ. 2002. HOSTS-a database of the hostplants LITERATURE CITED of the world's (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/ CHAMREHS, R. M., L. A. MEYEHSON & K. SALTONSTALL. 1999. Ex­ hostplantsl) (accessed 24 Nov., 2002). pansion of Phragmites australis into tidal wetlands of North SALTON STALL, K. 2002. Cryptic invasion by a non-native genotype America. Aquat. Bot. 64:261 ~273. of Phragmites australis into North America. Proc. Nat. Acad. EVEHSMANN, E.F VON. 1842. Quaedam Lepidopterorum, species Sci. USA 99:2445~2449. novae, in Rossia Orientali observatae, nunc descripti et depic­ SlEERIAN ZOOLOGICAL MUSE UM. 2002. Website of the Siberian Zoo­ tae. Bull. Soc. Imper. Nat. Moscou 15:543~ 565. lOgical Museum of the Institute of SystematiCS and Ecol­ FERGUSON, D. C, D. J. HILBURK & B. WRIGHT. 1991. Lepidoptera ogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (http:// of Bermuda: their food plants, biogeography, and means of dis­ www.bionet.nsc.nl!szmnlindex.html) (accessed 24 Nov. , 2002). persal. Mem. Entomol. Soc. Canada. No. 158. 105 pp. SKUHRAVY, V 1978. Invertebrates (): destroyers of comrnon reed GAHCI A, L. 1998. Phmgmites australis: impact on invertebrate bio­ (Phragmites communis). Eco!. Stud. Anal. & Synth. 28:376--388. diversity and its invertebrate fauna. MS. Thesis, University of TSCHARNTKE, T. 1990. Fluctuations in abundance of a stem boring Connedicut. 103 pp. moth damaging shoots of Phmgrnites australis: causes and ef­ HANDFIELD, 1.. 1999. Le guide des papillons dll Quebec. Broquet fects of overexploitation of food in a late-successional grass Inc., Boucherville, Quebec, Canada, 982 pp. monocultnre. J. Ecol. 27:679~692. INOUE, H., S. SUG!, H. KUROKO , S. MORIUTI & A. KAWABE. 1982. TSCHARNTKE, K. 1992. Fragmentation of Phragrnites habitats, min­ Moths of Japan. 2 vols. Kodansha, Tokyo, Japan. imum viable population size, habitat suitability and local extinc­ KARSHOLT, O. & J. RAZOWSKI (ms. ). 1996. The Lepidoptera of Eu­ tion of moths, midges, flies, aphids, and birds. Conserv. BioI. rope, a distributional checklist. Apollo Books , Stenstrup, Den­ 6:530~5.'36. mark. 380 pp. MARION, H. 1957. Classification et nomenclature des Pyraustidae Receivedfor publication 20 December 2002; revised and accepted 26 d'Europe. Entomologiste 13:82 April 2003.