Doratifera

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Doratifera
Cup moth caterpillar02.jpg
Doratifera vulnerans
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Limacodidae
Genus: Doratifera
Duncan, 1841

Doratifera is a genus of cup-moth caterpillars in the family Limacodidae. The genus was erected by James Duncan in 1841. There are about 13 described species in Doratifera, found primarily in Australia. They are called cup-moths because of the shape of their cocoons. [1] [2] In the species Doratifera vulnerans, the venon has a complex structure having 151 different protein-based toxins produced from 59 distinct protein families. The venom can be used in pesticides and drugs. [3]

Contents

Species

These 13 species belong to the genus Doratifera:

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copromorphidae</span> Family of moths

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<i>Orgyia</i> Genus of moths

Orgyia is a genus of tussock moths of the family Erebidae. The genus was described by Ochsenheimer in 1810. The species are cosmopolitan, except for the Neotropical realm.

<i>Arotrophora</i> Genus of tortrix moths

Arotrophora is a genus of tortrix moth. They occur in Australia, where they are strongly associated with the plant family Proteaceae. All of the known Australian larvae bore in Banksia flower spikes. The genus was recently discovered from the Oriental region and one species is found on Papua.

<i>Leptocneria reducta</i> Species of moth

Leptocneria reducta, the white cedar moth, is a moth of the subfamily Lymantriinae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found in all of Australia, except Tasmania.

<i>Doratifera pinguis</i> Species of moth

Doratifera pinguis, the pale cup moth or sometimes the painted cup moth is a moth of the family Limacodidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found over the whole eastern seaboard of Australia.

<i>Doratifera quadriguttata</i> Species of moth

Doratifera quadriguttata, the four-spotted cup moth, is a moth of the family Limacodidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found in Australia.

<i>Tathorhynchus</i> Genus and species of moth

Tathorhynchus is a monotypic moth genus in the family Erebidae erected by George Hampson in 1894. Its only species, Tathorhynchus exsiccata, the Levant blackneck or double-spotted snout, was first described by Julius Lederer in 1855. The nominate form is found on the Canary Islands and in North Africa, tropical Asia and tropical Africa. It has been introduced in Dominica and Argentina. Subspecies Tathorhynchus exsiccata fallax is found in the northern half of Australia, as well as Norfolk Island and New Zealand.

<i>Euproctis</i> Genus of moths

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<i>Iropoca</i> Genus of moths

Iropoca is a monotypic moth genus in the subfamily Lymantriinae erected by Alfred Jefferis Turner in 1904. Its only species, Iropoca rotundata, the iropoca moth, was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found in the Australian states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

<i>Genduara</i> Genus of moths

Genduara is a genus of moths in the family Lasiocampidae. The genus was erected by Francis Walker in 1856. All species in the genus are from Australia.

<i>Porela</i> Genus of moths

Porela is a genus of moths in the family Lasiocampidae. The genus was erected by Francis Walker in 1855. All species are known from Australia.

<i>Doratifera oxleyi</i> Species of moth

Doratifera oxleyi, the painted cup moth, is a moth of the family Limacodidae. The species was first described by Newman in 1855. An Australian moth, it is found in New South Wales and Victoria, as well as South Australia and Tasmania.

Gastridiota is a monotypic genus consisting solely of Gastridiota adoxima, a moth of the family Bombycidae. The genus was erected by Alfred Jefferis Turner in 1922 but the species had been described by him in 1902 as Andraca adoxima. It is found in the subtropical east of Australia, from the Bunya Mountains and Montville in southern Queensland to north-eastern New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xyloryctidae</span> Family of moths

Xyloryctidae is a family of moths contained within the superfamily Gelechioidea described by Edward Meyrick in 1890. Most genera are found in the Indo-Australian region. While many of these moths are tiny, some members of the family grow to a wingspan of up to 66 mm, making them giants among the micromoths.

<i>Doratifera vulnerans</i> Species of moth

Doratifera vulnerans, commonly known as the mottled cup moth, Australian cup moth or Chinese Junk, is a species of cup moth of the family Limacodidae. The species was first described by John Lewin in 1805 and is the type species of the genus Doratifera. It is found in Australia. It is known for its caterpillar having unique stinging spines or hairs that contain toxins, for which the scientific name is given that means "bearer of gifts of wounds". Chemical and genetic analysis in 2021 show that its caterpillar contains 151 toxins, some of which have medicinal properties.

References

  1. "Doratifera". GBIF. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  2. "Cup Moths". Australian Museum. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  3. "Venomous caterpillar has strange biology". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2021-06-28.