| Biology |
| A highly
polyphagous leaf-feeding species, H. femoralis has been recorded as a
pest on various crops including sugar beet, groundnuts, figs, and many
glasshouse ornamentals. |
 |
| Distribution |
| Widespread
in the tropics and subtropics. |
| Recognition |
| Body
brown, head yellowish brown sub-medially; tarsi and tibiae yellow, also
antennal segments I & III-V; forewing largely dark brown, pale at
apex and sub-basally, and with a paler transverse band distal to mid
point. Head finely reticulate, cheeks slightly convex, sharply constricted
to basal neck. Antennae 8-segmented, VIII more than twice as long as
VII; III & IV with sense cone forked and short, scarcely extending
beyond apex of segment. Pronotum finely reticulate, with several pairs
of moderately long discal setae. Mesonotum not divided medially. Metanotum
with weakly defined reticulate triangular area medially, median setae
long, 1 pair of campaniform sensilla present. Tarsi 2-segmented. Forewing
with complete row of setae on both longitudinal veins; costal cilia longer
than setae; posteromarginal cilia wavy. Abdominal tergites finely reticulate;
median tergal setae minute; tergite VIII with posteromarginal comb of
long microtrichia laterally; tergite X not fully divided medially. |
| Related
species |
|
| Of
the nine species recognised in this genus, all African in origin, several
are recorded as crop pests and are now widespread around the world. They
can be distinguished from each other by differences in the colour pattern
of the forewings, and by details of the abdominal sculpture (Wilson
1975).
|
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