First record of Opsiphanes cassina fabricii (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) feeding on Christmas palm Adonidia merrillii (Arecales: Arecaceae)

Abstract

The “Split-banded Owlet-Butterfly” Opsiphanes cassina Felder & Felder (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) comprises 12 subspecies occurring throughout Central America and in northern and western South America. In this work, O. cassina fabricii (Boisduval) was identified feeding on “Christmas palm” Adonidia merrillii (Becc.) Becc. (Arecales: Arecaceae) in the gardens of a housing unit in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. Identification was based on wing characters and genitalia morphology of males and females. This is the first record of O. cassina fabricii feeding on A. merrillii leaflets, which broadens the host plant range of this insect. In addition, some biological aspects and the damage caused by this species to “Christmas palm” are discussed.