Asciodes
Guenée, 1854
Species Guides
1Asciodes is a of snout moths (Crambidae: Spilomelinae) containing five described . The genus was established by Guenée in 1854 with Asciodes gordialis as the type species. Species are distributed across the Americas from the southern United States through the Caribbean to South America. Larvae of at least some species feed on plants in the order Caryophyllales.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Asciodes: /ˈæsioʊdiːz/
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Identification
Members of Asciodes can be recognized as part of tribe Asciodini within Spilomelinae. Specific diagnostic features for the are not documented in available sources.
Images
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical regions including arid and semi-arid environments. Associated with plants including Bougainvillea, Mirabilis, and Pisonia.
Distribution
Southern United States (California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, South Carolina), Mexico, Caribbean (Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles), and tropical to subtropical South America (Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador).
Diet
Larvae of Asciodes gordialis have been recorded feeding on Nyctaginaceae (Bougainvillea, Mirabilis, Pisonia), Rutaceae (Citrus), and Euphorbiaceae (Manihot esculenta). The feeding habits of other Asciodes remain unrecorded.
Host Associations
- Bougainvillea - larval food plantNyctaginaceae
- Mirabilis - larval food plantNyctaginaceae
- Pisonia - larval food plantNyctaginaceae
- Citrus - larval food plantRutaceae; non-Caryophyllales
- Manihot esculenta - larval food plantEuphorbiaceae; non-Caryophyllales
Human Relevance
Larvae feed on cultivated plants including Bougainvillea (ornamental) and Manihot esculenta (cassava, a staple crop), suggesting potential agricultural or horticultural significance.
Similar Taxa
- Other AsciodiniShare Spilomelinae and tribe Asciodini; Asciodes distinguished by specific genitalia and wing pattern characters not detailed in available sources.
More Details
Type species
Asciodes gordialis Guenée, 1854
Species count
Five described : A. denticulinea, A. gordialis, A. quietalis, A. scopulalis, A. titubalis
Tribal placement
Tribe Asciodini, established based on larval association with Caryophyllales and shared morphological characters