D3339: Araceae-feeding Midilinae (Crambidae: Pyraloidea): The taro snout moth, its larvae, and biology in Costa Rica

The recent discovery of larvae as stem and petiole miners in Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta Schott (Araceae) in Costa Rica provided the impetus for the study of Cacographis Lederer in Central America. Adults were reared and identified as Cacographis osteolalis osteolalis (Lederer, 1863), the taro snout moth (newly coined here). Because most of the feeding is internal, external reactions by the plant are described and illustrated for diagnosis in taro plantations. Additionally, based on evidence of external morphology, male genitalia, and COI barcodes, we elevate the Central American Cacographis osteolalis azteca Munroe to the rank of species. In addition to C. undulalis Schaus that is endemic to Costa Rica, two additional taxa, C. azteca, and the nominotypical subspecies, C. osteolalis osteolalis, are also reported to occur in Costa Rica. The larva of the genus Cacographis is described for the first time in the subfamily Midilinae, a member of the “wet habitat clade” in the Crambidae. The larvae have bisetose lateral setae on the prothorax that differ greatly in length, and highly modified abdominal segments eight and nine, with spiracles for respiration facing posteriorly that have not been reported elsewhere in the Pyraloidea.