Taxonomic study of the genus Assara Walker (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Phycitinae) in NE China, with description of a new species

Abstract

Four species of the genus Assara Walker, 1863 are revised from NE China. Among them, Assara yanbianensis Bae & Qi sp. n. is described as new to science and A. terebrella (Zincken, 1818) is newly recorded from China. A key to the NE Chinese species of the genus Assara with illustrations of adults and genitalia are presented.

Infestation of the non‐photosynthetic plant Mitrastemon yamamotoi (Ericales: Mitrastemonaceae) by Assara balanophorae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…) and that Assara species are usually oligophagous, utilizing one or several genera within a single plant family (Qi et al . ), it is possible that the pyralid moths that utilize M. yamamotoi might differ from A. balanophorae . However, the morphological and ecological similarities of these plants, reflecting their holoparastism, could indicate that A. balanophorae also utilizes M. yamamotoi .…”

“…Although the majority of Assara larvae feed on pinaceous cones, their feeding habits are diverse; they include aphid-gall feeders, aphid feeders and fruit borers (Yoshiyasu 1991;Sasaki & Tanaka 2004;Yamanaka 2008;Qi et al 2014). Assara balanophorae Sasaki & Tanaka, 2004, the type locality of which is Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, has particularly intriguing feeding ecology.…”

“…In contrast, based on phylogenetic studies using nuclear 18S rDNA and mitochondrial matR regions, the family Balanophoraceae is allied with the order Santalales (Nickrent et al 2005;Barkman et al 2007). Considering that M. yamamotoi is phylogenetically distinct from Balanophora at the order level (Barkman et al 2004(Barkman et al , 2007Nickrent et al 2005) and that Assara species are usually oligophagous, utilizing one or several genera within a single plant family (Qi et al 2014), it is possible that the pyralid moths that utilize M. yamamotoi might differ from A. balanophorae. However, the morphological and ecological similarities of these plants, reflecting their holoparastism, could indicate that A. balanophorae also utilizes M. yamamotoi.…”

“…So far, there have been no host records for A. balanophorae outside the genus Balanophora. Given that most Assara species are oligophagous (Qi et al 2014) and that M. yamamotoi is distantly related to Balanophora at the order level, it is somewhat surprising that A. balanophorae can utilize both the hosts. Nonetheless, considering their convergent holoparasitic characteristics, they might present a similar resource for A. balanophorae.…”