Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 16, 2004
Publication Date: August 16, 2004
Citation: Solis, M.A. 2004. The evolution of feeding behaviors in teh pyraloidea. Meeting Abstract. 08/16/2004. 1:1 Technical Abstract: Snout moth caterpillars, or pyraloids have diverse habits. Many snout moth larvae are pests of crops worldwide, many species feeding exclusively on specific plant families. Most larvae consume living plants, but some consume dried or decaying plant or animal matter, fecal matter, or wax in bee and wasp nests. Some are known to be inquilines in ant nests, predators on scale insects, and aquatic scavengers in flowing water. Trees of relationship of the two families, Pyralidae and Crambidae, are used to examine various aspects of the evolution of feeding habits in the pyraloidea. The diversity, or species richness, of taxonomic groups within the Pyraloidea is examined in the context of these feeding behaviors that may have enabled groups of species to use resources previously unavailable to them.