Erebinae

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Erebinae
Catocala nupta topside view HBP 2011-08-19.jpg
Red underwing ( Catocala nupta )
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Erebinae
Leach, [1815]

The Erebinae are a subfamily of moths in the family Erebidae erected by William Elford Leach in 1815. Erebine moths are found on all continents except Antarctica, but reach their greatest diversity in the tropics. [1] While the exact number of species belonging to the Erebinae is not known, the subfamily is estimated to include around 10,000 species. [2] Some well-known Erebinae include underwing moths ( Catocala ) and witch moths (Thermesiini). Many of the species in the subfamily have medium to large wingspans (7 to 10 cm, 3 to 4 inches), up to nearly 30 cm in the white witch moth ( Thysania agrippina ), which has the widest wingspan of all Lepidoptera. [3] Erebine caterpillars feed on a broad range of plants; many species feed on grasses and legumes, and a few are pests of castor bean, [4] sugarcane, rice, [5] as well as pistachios [6] and blackberries. [7]

Contents

Morphology

Erebine moths possess a number of adaptations for predator defense. Most Erebinae, such as Zale have mottled, drably colored hindwings to better blend in with grass and tree trunks. In some Erebinae, such as Catocala , cryptically colored forewings conceal brightly colored hindwings which are suddenly revealed when the moth is disturbed from rest. [8] The sudden exposure of these bright colors is thought to startle vertebrate predators, giving the moths extra time to escape. [9] Like other Noctuoidea, erebine moths can detect the calls of echolocating bats or other approaching predators using hearing organs (tympana), which are among the most sensitive in the superfamily. [10] [11]

Taxonomy

Prior to recent phylogenetic studies on the superfamily Noctuoidea, most Erebinae were classified within the noctuid subfamily Catocalinae, on the basis of a classification proposed by George Hampson at the start of the 20th century. [12] [13] Based on mounting evidence from molecular phylogenetic studies, Michael Fibiger and J. Donald Lafontaine [14] transferred Erebinae and relatives from the Noctuidae to the Erebidae, and reinstated Erebinae as a subfamily. Later, Catocalinae was synonymized with Erebinae in the classifications proposed by Lafontaine and Christian Schmidt [15] and Zahiri et al. [16] [1]  A historical summary of the systematics of this group is provided by Jeremy Daniel Holloway, [17] and a more detailed review of Erebinae taxonomy can be found in Nicholas T. Homziak et al. [18] The most recent study by Zahriri et al. [1] forms the basis for the current definition of the Erebinae. On the basis of consistent molecular support, Zahiri et al. [1] identified several potential morphological synapomorphies for the subfamily: proboscis with smooth apex and sensilla styloconica dorsally, modified seventh abdominal sternite in the female, divided in to two lobes surrounding the ostium bursae (female copulatory opening). In the larvae, dorsolateral tubercles on segment A8, and pupae often with waxy bloom. Within the Erebinae, Zahiri et al. [1] recognized the following 19 tribes:

Tribes

Genera with tribe not available:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noctuidae</span> Type of moths commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms

The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other families of the Noctuoidea. It was considered the largest family in Lepidoptera for a long time, but after regrouping Lymantriinae, Catocalinae and Calpinae within the family Erebidae, the latter holds this title now. Currently, Noctuidae is the second largest family in Noctuoidea, with about 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. This classification is still contingent, as more changes continue to appear between Noctuidae and Erebidae.

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

Noctuoidea is the superfamily of noctuid or "owlet" moths, and has more than 70,000 described species, the largest number of any Lepidopteran superfamily. Its classification has not yet reached a satisfactory or stable state. Since the end of the 20th century, increasing availability of molecular phylogenetic data for this hugely successful radiation has led to several competing proposals for a taxonomic arrangement that correctly represents the relationships between the major lineages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catocalinae</span> Subfamily of moths

The Catocalinae are a subfamily of noctuoid moths, placed in family Noctuidae. In the alternative arrangement, where the Noctuidae are reduced to the core group around the Noctuinae, the present lineage is abolished, the upranked Catocalini being merged with the Erebini and becoming a subfamily of the reestablished family Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catocalini</span> Tribe of moths

The Catocalini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae. Adults of many species in the tribe are called underwing moths due to their vividly colored hindwings that are often covered by contrastingly dark, drab forewings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ophiusini</span> Tribe of moths

The Ophiusini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calpinae</span> Subfamily of moths

The Calpinae are a subfamily of moths in the family Erebidae described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1840. This subfamily includes many species of moths that have a pointed and barbed proboscis adapted to piercing the skins of fruit to feed on juice, and in the case of the several Calyptra species of vampire moths, to piercing the skins of mammals to feed on blood. The subfamily contains some large moths with wingspans longer than 5 cm (2 in).

<i>Metalectra</i> Genus of moths

Metalectra is a genus of moths of the family Erebidae described by Jacob Hübner in 1823.

Proroblemma is a genus of moths of the family Erebidae. The genus was erected by George Hampson in 1910.

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

The Erebidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea. The family is among the largest families of moths by species count and contains a wide variety of well-known macromoth groups. The family includes the underwings (Catocala); litter moths (Herminiinae); tiger, lichen, and wasp moths (Arctiinae); tussock moths (Lymantriinae), including the arctic woolly bear moth ; fruit-piercing moths ; micronoctuoid moths (Micronoctuini); snout moths (Hypeninae); and zales, though many of these common names can also refer to moths outside the Erebidae. Some of the erebid moths are called owlets.

The Pericymini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

The Pandesmini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

The Catephiini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anobinae</span> Subfamily of moths

The Anobinae are a subfamily of moths in the family Erebidae described by Jeremy Daniel Holloway in 2005. Common morphological characteristics of Anobine moths include a dark head and prothoracic collar, lighter color on the thorax, and either bipectinate antennae or antennae with flagellomeral setae in males.

The Toxocampinae are a subfamily of moths in the family Erebidae. Moths in the subfamily typically have a primitive form of genital claspers similar to those of some subfamilies of the Noctuidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocytiini</span> Tribe of moths

The Cocytiini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae. Adults of some members of the subfamily, especially in the genus Serrodes, have a proboscis capable of piercing fruit skins, allowing the moth to drink the fruit juice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melipotini</span> Tribe of moths

The Melipotini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omopterini</span> Tribe of moths

The Omopterini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poaphilini</span> Tribe of moths

The Poaphilini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sypnini</span> Tribe of moths

The Sypnini are a tribe of moths in the family Erebidae.

<i>Zale confusa</i> Species of moth

Zale confusa, the confused zale moth, is an owlet moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1940. It is found in North America.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Zahiri, Reza; Holloway, Jeremy D.; Kitching, Ian J.; Lafontaine, J. Donald; Mutanen, Marko; Wahlberg, Niklas (2012-01-01). "Molecular phylogenetics of Erebidae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea)". Systematic Entomology. 37 (1): 102–124. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2011.00607.x . ISSN   1365-3113.
  2. ↑ Kononenko, V.S. & Pinratana, A. (2013). Moths of Thailand Vol. 3, Part 2. Noctuoidea. An illustrated Catalogue of Erebidae, Nolidae, Euteliidae, and Noctuidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in Thailand. Bangkok: Brothers of St. Gabriel in Thailand.
  3. ↑ "Chapter 32: Largest Lepidopteran Wing Span | The University of Florida Book of Insect Records | Department of Entomology & Nematology | UF/IFAS". www.entnemdept.ufl.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
  4. ↑ Naik, M. I.; Ajith Kumar, M. A.; Manjunatha, M.; Shivanna, B. K. (2010). "Survey for the pests of castor and natural enemies of castor semilooper". Environment and Ecology (Kalyani). 28: 558–563.
  5. ↑ Zilli, A. (2000). "African-Arabian and Asian-Pacific "Mocis frugalis": two distinct species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)". European Journal of Entomology. 97 (3): 419–426. doi: 10.14411/eje.2000.064 .
  6. ↑ Berlinger, M. J.; Yathom, S.; Halperin, J. (2001). "Ophiusa tirhaca Cramer (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) infesting pistachio trees in Israel". Zoology in the Middle East. 22: 83–86. doi:10.1080/09397140.2001.10637851. S2CID   84318908.
  7. ↑ Vázquez, Yadira-Maibeth; Martínez, Ana-Mabel; Valdez, Jorge-Manuel; Figueroa, José-Isaac; Rebollar, Ángel; Chavarrieta, Juan Manuel; Sánchez, José-Antonio; Viñuela, Elisa; Pineda, Samuel (2014-01-01). "Life History, Diagnosis, and Parasitoids of Zale phaeograpta (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 107 (1): 170–177. doi: 10.1603/an13093 . ISSN   0013-8746. S2CID   84205515.
  8. ↑ Sargent, T. D. (1976). Legion of Night: The Underwing Moths. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. pp. xii + 222pp.
  9. ↑ Schlenoff, Debra H. (1985-11-01). "The startle responses of blue jays to Catocala (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) prey models". Animal Behaviour. 33 (4): 1057–1067. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(85)80164-0. S2CID   53182274.
  10. ↑ Fullard, James H.; Napoleone, Nadia (2001-08-01). "Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera". Animal Behaviour. 62 (2): 349–368. doi:10.1006/anbe.2001.1753. S2CID   53182157.
  11. ↑ Fullard, James H. (1984-11-01). "Acoustic relationships between tympanate moths and the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus)". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 155 (6): 795–801. doi:10.1007/BF00611596. ISSN   0340-7594. S2CID   206783324.
  12. ↑ Hampson, G. F. (1913). Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae of the British Museum. Vol. 12. London: Trustees of the British Museum. pp. 626 pp.
  13. ↑ Hampson, G. F. (1913). Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae of the British Museum. Vol. 13. London: Trustees of the British Museum. pp. 609 pp.
  14. ↑ Fibiger, Michael; Lafontaine, J. Donald (June 29, 2005). "A review of the higher classification of the Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) with special reference to the Holarctic fauna". Esperiana. 11: 27–28.
  15. ↑ Lafontaine, Donald; Schmidt, Christian (2010-03-19). "Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico". ZooKeys (40): 1–239. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.40.414 . ISSN   1313-2970.
  16. ↑ Zahiri, Reza; Kitching, Ian J.; Lafontaine, J. Donald; Mutanen, Marko; Kaila, Lauri; Holloway, Jeremy D.; Wahlberg, Niklas (2011-03-01). "A new molecular phylogeny offers hope for a stable family level classification of the Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera)". Zoologica Scripta. 40 (2): 158–173. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2010.00459.x. ISSN   1463-6409.
  17. ↑ Holloway, J. D. "The Moths of Borneo Parts 15&16: Family Noctuidae, Subfamily Catocalinae". The Moths of Borneo. Southdene Sdn. Bhd. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  18. ↑ Homziak, Nicholas T.; Breinholt, Jesse W.; Kawahara, Akito Y. (2016-11-10). "A historical review of the classification of Erebinae (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)". Zootaxa. 4189 (3): 516–542. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4189.3.4. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   27988746.
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