Nacophorini

Last updated

Nacophorini
Mnesampela privata (ento-csiro-au).jpg
Mnesampela privata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Ennominae
Tribe: Nacophorini
Forbes, 1948
Type genus
Nacophora
Hulst, 1896
Genera

Many, see text

The Nacophorini are one of the smaller tribes of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae. They are the most diverse Ennominae of Australia and are widespread in the Americas. If the African genera tentatively placed herein indeed belong here, the distribution of the Nacophorini is distinctly Gondwanan, with their probable origin either of Australia, South America or even Antarctica (which was not ice-covered until a few million years ago). In Eurasia, they are rare by comparison. [1]

Contents

Despite the lack of thorough study of this tribe in modern times, as traditionally delimited they are probably nearly monophyletic, requiring only a few genera to be moved in and out of this group to make it correspond to a clade; [1] as this involves the type species, the correct name for this clade might be Lithinini or maybe Campaeini, which are both liable to be eventually merged with the Nacophorini. The Azelinini, Ennomini and perhaps the Caberini are probably their closest living relatives, and a more radical approach to monophyly would be to merge the Nacophorini, Lithinini and possibly the Campaeini into the Ennomini.

Description

Nacophorini are generally robust and quite hairy geometer moths, though some species are more delicate. Exceptional among their subfamily, many have slim wings. They typically rest with the hindwings tucked under the forewings. Nacophorini have long antennae, and most if not all have terminal sensillae shaped like stout pegs and sensillae basiconicae on the flagellomeres or rami. The "horn" between the antenna sockets which is present in many geometer moths is usually exceptionally well developed in the Nacophorini. Some have a crest of thorns on their thorax, and a few have a spine at the tip of their foreleg tibia. The hindleg tibia is usually swollen in males, which also often have a "penciltip" of hairs tucked into a groove. Together with a comb of setae on the third abdominal segment, these structures probably serve to distribute pheromones, and while the abdominal comb is found in many Ennominae, the full set of structures is rarely found outside of the Nacophorini, which usually possess at least a swollen tibia or tibial "pencil", and often both.

Wnile the female genitalia are rather nondescript, there are a number of features of the male genitalia that are usually not exclusive to Nacophorini, but in combination are quite characteristic. Like in most Boarmiini, the valval costa typically has a batch of bristles on its underside near the tip, whereas the harpe or "clasper" of Nacophorini lacks the complex modifications found in Boarmiini. The aedeagus has a pointed tip in almost all members of this tribe, displaying little of the variation found in related geometer moths. The anellus usually has extensions at the side, which extend from the edge of the juxta and can be lobes or spines, small or large, covered in bristles or nude. But unlike the similar-looking but probably analogous structures found in Ourapterygini these "furcae" are entirely or almost symmetrical in Nacophorini. The Lithinini and the Tasmanian Ennominae traditionally placed in the Archiearinae also have such symmetrical furcae, indicating the close relationship between them and the Nacophorini. [1]

Ecology

Larval food plants are mainly Rosidae. Caterpillars of the Australian and South American genera feed predominantly on Myrtaceae, including Campomanesia , Eucalyptus , Eugenia and guavas (Psidium). A rather notorious nacophorine species from the tropical Americas is the Brazilian eucalyptus brown looper ( Thyrinteina arnobia ), which can be a commercially significant pest in eucalyptus plantations. Faboideae and Mimosoideae have also been recorded as food plants.

Caterpillars of the African species tentatively placed in this tribe have been recorded from Cunoniaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae and Thymelaceae. Caterpillars of Declana from New Zealand, also tentatively placed in the Nacophorini, have been found on Myrtaceae (eucalyptus, Kunzea and Leptospermum ), Pinaceae larches (Larix), pines (Pinus, notably Monterey pine, P. radiata) and coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) , and southern beeches (Nothofagaceae). In addition, they were found on a species of Olearia , the only euasterid recorded as food plant of Nacophorini to date. [1]

Systematics

The genera Oratha , usually placed in the Nacophorini, is in many aspects suspiciously similar to Pero of the Azelinini and Rhinodia of the Caberini. It is liable to be moved to either of these tribes.

Phaeoura , which includes Nacophora nowadays, appears to be closer to the Ennomini. As this includes the type species Phaeoura quernaria , [2] Lithinini which might warrant merging with the Nacophorini would then supersede the name "Nacophorini", which would become a junior synonym of the Ennomini. The enigmatic genus Hoplosauris , of uncertain placement in the Ennominae, is in some respects intermediate between the Nacophorini and the Ennomini.

While the taxonomic and systematic questions are in need of thorough study, the situation regarding the Lithinini is more clear. Their genus Idiodes and some species formerly placed in the paraphyletic Metrocampa (at least "M." ada and "M." biplaga ) appear very close to nacophorine genera to Thalaina , and to Conosara and Corula , respectively. The Lithinini and the Nacophorini share the same apomorphies of the male genitalia, and their caterpillars are also very similar. It is unknown whether the somewhat more distinct Campaeini would warrant inclusion in this group too.

The Tasmanian genera Acalyphes and Dirce and possibly the South American Archiearides , traditionally placed in the subfamily Archiearinae, seem to be close relatives of the Australian nacophorines Niceteria and Paralaea and would probably need to be moved to the present tribe. And finally, there are some African genera as well as Declana from New Zealand which are tentatively assigned to the Nacophorini. [1]

Selected genera

As numerous ennomine genera have not yet been assigned to a tribe, [3] the genus list should be considered preliminary.

Clara's satin moth, Thalaina clara Thalaina clara.jpg
Clara's satin moth, Thalaina clara

As noted above, Acalyphes , Dirce and possibly Archiearides would seem to need moving here from the Archiearinae, and at least some Lithinini and perhaps Campaeini seem to belong here too.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Young (2008)
  2. Pitkin & Jenkins (2007)
  3. See references in Savela (2008)
  4. "Nacophorini Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  5. Byrne, C. J. and N. Wei. (2012). Kunanyia stephaniae gen. nov. & sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae): an unusual and rare diurnal moth from the mountains of Tasmania. Zootaxa 3503 25-46.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myrtaceae</span> Myrtle family of plants

Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oils, and have flower parts in multiples of four or five. The leaves are evergreen, alternate to mostly opposite, simple, and usually entire. The flowers have a base number of five petals, though in several genera, the petals are minute or absent. The stamens are usually very conspicuous, brightly coloured, and numerous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geometer moth</span> Family of insects

The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek geo γεω, and metron μέτρον "measure" in reference to the way their larvae, or inchworms, appear to measure the earth as they move along in a looping fashion. A very large family, it has around 23,000 species of moths described, and over 1400 species from six subfamilies indigenous to North America alone. A well-known member is the peppered moth, Biston betularia, which has been subject of numerous studies in population genetics. Several other geometer moths are notorious pests.

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

The Elachistidae are a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Some authors lump about 3,300 species in eight subfamilies here, but this arrangement almost certainly results in a massively paraphyletic and completely unnatural assemblage, united merely by symplesiomorphies retained from the first gelechioid moths.

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

The Pyralidae, commonly called pyralid moths, snout moths or grass moths, are a family of Lepidoptera in the ditrysian superfamily Pyraloidea. In many classifications, the grass moths (Crambidae) are included in the Pyralidae as a subfamily, making the combined group one of the largest families in the Lepidoptera. The latest review by Eugene G. Munroe and Maria Alma Solis retain the Crambidae as a full family of Pyraloidea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belidae</span> Family of beetles

Belidae is a family of weevils, called belids or primitive weevils because they have straight antennae, unlike the "true weevils" or Curculionidae which have geniculate (elbowed) antennae. They are sometimes known as "cycad weevils", but this properly refers to a few species from the genera Parallocorynus and Rhopalotria.

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

The Macariini are a tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae. Though they share many traits with the Sterrhinae, this is probably plesiomorphic rather than indicative of a close relationship, and DNA sequence data points to the Boarmiini as particularly close relatives of the Macariini. All things considered, this tribe might still resemble the first Ennominae more than any other living lineage in the subfamily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ennominae</span> Subfamily of the geometer moths

Ennominae is the largest subfamily of the geometer moth family (Geometridae) with some 9,700 described species in 1,100 genera. Most species are fairly small, though some grow to be considerably large. This subfamily has a global distribution. It includes some species that are notorious defoliating pests. The subfamily was first described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1845.

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

The Bistonini are a tribe of geometer moths in subfamily Ennominae. As numerous ennomine genera have not yet been assigned to a tribe, the genus list is preliminary. In addition, the entire tribe is sometimes merged into a much-expanded Boarmiini. In other treatments, the Erannini are included in the present group.

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

The Ennomini are a tribe of geometer moths in the Ennominae subfamily. They are large-bodied and rather nondescript Ennominae, overall showing many similarities to the closely related Azelinini and Nacophorini.

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

The Ourapterygini are one of the large tribes of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae. The tribe was described by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1846. They are particularly plentiful in the Neotropics. Ourapterygini are generally held to be the youngest tribe of their subfamily, and at least seasonally have characteristic apomorphic asymmetrical processes of the anellus.

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

The Abraxini are a tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae. Here, the Cassymini are considered a specialized offshoot of the Abraxini and merged therein; some authors consider them a distinct tribe however.

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

Geometrinae is the nominate subfamily of the geometer moth family (Geometridae). It is strongly split, containing a considerable number of tribes of which most are presently very small or monotypic. These small moths are often a light bluish green, leading to the common name of emerald moths, though a few species called thus are also found in the tribe Campaeini of the Ennominae. In 2018, a phylogeny and classification based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society in which 13 tribes were accepted.

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

Larentiinae is a subfamily of moths containing roughly 5,800 species that occur mostly in the temperate regions of the world. They are generally considered a subfamily of the geometer moth family (Geometridae) and are divided into a few large or good-sized tribes, and numerous very small or even monotypic ones which might not always be valid. Well-known members are the "pug moths" of the Eupitheciini and the "carpets", mainly of the Cidariini and Xanthorhoini. The subfamily was described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1845.

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

The Boarmiini are a large tribe of geometer moths in the Ennominae subfamily.

<i>Lomographa bimaculata</i> Species of moth

Lomographa bimaculata, the white-pinion spotted, is a species of geometer moth. It belongs to the large geometer moth subfamily Ennominae, and therein to the tribe Baptini. It is – under its junior synonym – the type species of its genus Lomographa. It is also the type species of Bapta, a junior objective synonym of Lomographa and the namesake of the Baptini. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius ion 1775.

The Azelinini are a tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Ennominae, with many species in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in South America. Several species are found in North America as well. These stocky geometer moths seem to be closely related to other robust tribes, such as the Campaeini, Ennomini, Lithinini and Nacophorini – all of which might warrant to be subsumed in the Ennomini – the genus Odontopera, and perhaps the Caberini and Colotoini. The tribe was first described by William Trowbridge Merrifield Forbes in 1948.

<i>Drepanogynis</i> Genus of moths

Drepanogynis is a genus in the geometer moth family (Geometridae). Long considered to hold about 5 dozen species, this number has been doubled after the last major revision. They are stout-bodied and hairy by geometer moth standards, usually have pale hindwings and rest with their wings angled upwards like a roof, as Nacophorini do. The genus is by and large restricted to Africa south of the Equator, with most species occurring in southern Africa.

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

Sterrhinae is a large subfamily of geometer moths with some 3,000 described species, with more than half belonging to the taxonomically difficult, very diverse genera, Idaea and Scopula. This subfamily was described by Edward Meyrick in 1892. They are the most diverse in the tropics with the number of species decreasing with increasing latitude and elevation.

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

The Phycitinae are a subfamily of snout moths. Even though the Pyralidae subfamilies are all quite diverse, Phycitinae stand out even by standards of their family: with over 600 genera considered valid and more than 4000 species placed here at present, they unite up more than three-quarters of living snout moth diversity. Together with the closely related Epipaschiinae, they are apparently the most advanced lineage of snout moths.

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

The Galleriinae are a subfamily of snout moths and occur essentially worldwide, in some cases aided by involuntary introduction by humans. This subfamily includes the wax moths, whose caterpillars (waxworms) are bred on a commercial scale as food for pets and as fishing bait; in the wild, these and other species of Galleriinae may also be harmful to humans as pests.

References