Epermeniidae

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Epermeniidae
Epermenia illigerella 1.jpg
Epermenia illigerella
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Infraorder: Heteroneura
Clade: Eulepidoptera
Clade: Ditrysia
Clade: Apoditrysia
Superfamily: Epermenioidea
Minet, 1983
Family: Epermeniidae
Spuler, 1910
Diversity
About 83 species

Epermeniidae or the fringe-tufted moths is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order with about 14 genera. Previously they have been divided in two subfamilies Epermeniinae and Ochromolopinae (e.g. Common, 1990: 321) but this is no longer maintained since the last group is probably hierarchically nested within the first (Dugdale et al., 1999). They are presently placed in their own superfamily but have previously been placed among the Yponomeutoidea or Copromorphoidea with which they share some features. Their systematic placement among the apoditrysian group "Obtectomera" (having pupal segments I-IV immobile) is however uncertain. They show some morphological similarities to the "plume moths" (Alucitoidea and Pterophoroidea), for example the wing fringe has similar groups of scales (Dugdale et al., 1999). There are also some similarities to Schreckensteinioidea, for example spiny legs and at least in some species an open-network cocoon. The genus Thambotricha from New Zealand may be the sister group of all other extant members. The most important genera are Epermenia , Ochromolopis and Gnathifera . The group has been extensively revised and catalogued by Dr Reinhard Gaedike (e.g. Gaedike, 1977, 1979).

Contents

Identification

Epermeniidae are small narrow-winged moths, having a span of 7–20 mm, with conspicuous whorls of bristles on their legs, lacking spines on the abdomen unlike some similar moths. The smoothly scaled head bears no ocelli or "chaetosemata". They are most easily confused with Stathmopodinae (Oecophoridae), which unlike epermeniids have the tarsi of the forelegs and midlegs without the whorls of spines, and whose proboscis is scaled at the base. [1] The projecting scale tufts on the inner margin of the hindwing is the easiest field character (Common, 1990).

Distribution

Epermeniidae occur worldwide in both temperate and tropical regions and especially in montane areas, [2] but are sparsely known from the Afrotropics. Gnathifera occurs from Australia to New Caledonia; Epermenia ranges from the Palaearctic to Indo-Australia and the Pacific islands. [3]

Behaviour

Epermeniidae are nocturnal as adults and well-camouflaged. They rest parallel to the surface with their wings held over their back in a tent-like manner (Robinson et al., 1994).

Biology

The caterpillars feed inside almost any plant parts (fruits, seeds, galls, leaves or flowers), sometimes in a mine or sometimes exposed or under silk on the leaf surface; unlike some Lepidoptera the pupa is not extruded from the cocoon, [4] and may be found in its fine open-network cocoon on the plant or amongst debris on the ground. [5]

Host plants

Many species in Europe feed on umbels of Apiaceae, and Epermenia chaerophyllella is a pest of cultivated species. [6] Other species feed on the parasitic plant families Santalaceae (e.g. the Australian quandong moth) and Loranthaceae, or on Pinaceae, Pittosporaceae and Leguminosae. [7]

Systematics

Related Research Articles

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

Carposinidae, the "fruitworm moths", is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera. These moths are narrower winged than Copromorphidae, with less rounded forewing tips. Males often have conspicuous patches of scales on either surface. The mouthparts are quite diagnostic, usually with prominent, upcurved "labial palps", the third segment long, and the second segment covered in large scales. Unlike Copromorphidae, the "M2" and sometimes "M1" vein on the hindwings is absent. The relationship of Carposinidae relative to Copromorphidae needs further investigation. It is considered possible that the family is artificial, being nested within Copromorphidae. The Palearctic species have been revised by Alexey Diakonoff (1989).

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

Choreutidae, or metalmark moths, are a family of insects in the lepidopteran order whose relationships have been long disputed. It was placed previously in the superfamily Yponomeutoidea in family Glyphipterigidae and in superfamily Sesioidea. It is now considered to represent its own superfamily. The relationship of the family to the other lineages in the group "Apoditrysia" need a new assessment, especially with new molecular data.

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

Copromorphidae, the "tropical fruitworm moths", is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order. These moths have broad, rounded forewings, and well-camouflaged scale patterns. Unlike Carposinidae the mouthparts include "labial palps" with the second rather than third segment the longest. With other unusual structural characteristics of the caterpillar and adult, it could represent the sister lineage of all other extant members of this superfamily. The genus Sisyroxena from Madagascar is also notable for its unusual venation and wing scale sockets.

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

Galacticidae is a recently recognised and enigmatic family of insects in the lepidopteran order. These moderate sized moths are 8–17 mm in wingspan and have previously been embedded within several lepidopteran superfamilies, but Galacticidae is currently placed in its own superfamily at the base of the natural group Apoditrysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carposinoidea</span> Superfamily of moths

Carposinoidea, the "fruitworm moths", is a superfamily of insects in the lepidopteran order. The superfamily is also known as Copromorphoidea, which is a junior synonym. These moths are small to medium-sized and are broad-winged bearing some resemblance to the superfamilies Tortricoidea and Immoidea. The antennae are often "pectinate" especially in males, and many species of these well camouflaged moths bear raised tufts of scales on the wings and a specialised fringe of scales at the base of the hindwing sometimes in females only; there are a number of other structural characteristics. The position of this superfamily is not certain, but it has been placed in the natural group of "Apoditrysia" "Obtectomera", rather than with the superfamilies Alucitoidea or Epermenioidea within which it has sometimes previously been placed, on the grounds that shared larval and pupal characteristics of these groups have probably evolved independently. It has been suggested that the division into two families should be abandoned.

<i>Epermenia chaerophyllella</i> Species of moth

Epermenia chaerophyllella, also known as the garden lance-wing, is a moth of the family Epermeniidae first described by Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1783. It is found in all of Europe and Asia Minor.

Gnathifera bidentella is a fringe-tufted moth species. It was described by Reinhard Gaedike in 1981. It is found in Queensland, Australia.

O. bidentata may refer to:

<i>Epermenia</i> Genus of moths

Epermenia is a genus of moths in the family Epermeniidae. The genus was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1825.

Gnathifera is a genus of moths in the family Epermeniidae.

<i>Ochromolopis</i> Genus of moths

Ochromolopis is a genus of moths in the family Epermeniidae described by Jacob Hübner in 1824.

Parochromolopis is a genus of moths in the family Epermeniidae.

Phaulernis is a genus of moths in the family Epermeniidae.

Epermenia stolidota is a moth in the family Epermeniidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1917. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

Epermenia trifilata is a moth in the family Epermeniidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1932. It is found on Java in Indonesia.

Epermenia pimpinella is a moth in the family Epermeniidae. It was described by Mary Murtfeldt in 1900. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from South Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Gnathifera acacivorella is a moth in the family Epermeniidae. It was described by Reinhard Gaedike in 1968. It is found in Australia, where it has been recorded from Tasmania.

Epermenia sinica is a moth in the family Epermeniidae. It was described by Reinhard Gaedike in 1996. It is found in Yunnan, China.

References

  1. ↑ Robinson et al., 1994
  2. ↑ Robinson et al., 1994
  3. ↑ Holloway et al., 2001
  4. ↑ Robinson et al., 1994
  5. ↑ Common, 1990
  6. ↑ Dugdale et al., 1999
  7. ↑ Search Results: Family Epermeniidae. HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved April 2, 2018.

Sources

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