Sterrhinae

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Sterrhinae
Idaea macilentaria MHNT.jpg
Idaea macilentaria
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Sterrhinae
Meyrick, 1892
Tribes

Sterrhinae is a large subfamily of geometer moths (family Geometridae) with some 3,000 described species, with more than half belonging to the taxonomically difficult, very diverse genera, Idaea and Scopula (Hausmann, 2004; Sihvonen, 2005). 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 (Scoble et al., 1995; Hausmann, 2001, 2004; Brehm & Fiedler, 2003).

Contents

Characteristics

Sterrhinae are called waves due to the numerous wavy fasciae on the fore- and hindwings. Compared to other Geometridae, the moths are often small in size (wing span <20 mm), but size variation is considerable (Sihvonen et al., 2020). The monophyly of Sterrhinae has been postulated based on three morphological synapomorphies: the presence of one or two areoles in the forewings, in the forewing the point of origin of vein M1 is either proximal or distal to the areole, and the absence of anterolateral extensions on the male second abdominal sternite (Sihvonen & Kaila, 2004). Other diagnostic characters include length and longitudinal orientation of the forewing vein connecting the ariole with the origin of M1, and the presence of dark distal spots, which may have pale centres (Holloway, 1997). The majority of species are nocturnal, but many species are easily flushed from vegetation during the day, and a few lineages are entirely diurnal (Sihvonen et al., 2020).

Larvae

Larvae of many species feed on low herbs, but species of the Cyclophora Hübner lineage are arboreal (Sihvonen & Kaila, 2004).

Systematics

Sterrhinae is in fact a junior synonym of Idaeidae (Butler, 1881). Seeing this name is hardly used in literature and Sterrhinae is widely used, this name is preferred. The tribe Lythriini with the genus Lythria(Hübner, 1823) and the species Lythria cruentaria(Hufnagel, 1767) was transferred from Larentiinae in 2008. [1] The Larentiinae have been suggested to be the sister group of Sterrhinae based on morphology (Holloway, 1997). Characters that unite Sterrhinae and Larentiinae include the distribution of male secondary sexual organs, found mainly on the male second sternite or in the form of coremata more distally on the abdomen, the spinned or rugose signum of the female corpus bursae (Holloway, 1997), the hammer-head ansa in the tympanal organ, and the absence of a tympanic lacinia in most species (Cook & Scoble, 1992). However, a molecular study done by Abraham et al. (2001), based on a very limited taxon sample, did not support the relationship between Sterrhinae/Larentiinae (Sihvonen & Kaila, 2004). Instead, Sterrhinae was found to be the sister taxon to the Geometrinae + Ennominae + Alsophilinae + Archiearinae assemblage (Sihvonen & Kaila, 2004). Sterrhinae has the presence of olefinic acetates and derivates, unlike other geometrid families, and is sometimes placed as the most basal sister groups of Geometrinae (Young, 2006; Yamamoto & Sota, 2007; Sihvonen et al., 2011).

The subfamily is divided into eight tribes:

Based on the molecular phylogeny, and extensive morphological examination, Haemaleni (Sihvonen & Brehm) is described as a new tribe and is deemed sister to Scopulini and Lissoblemmini; [3] Lissoblemmini (Sihvonen & Staude) is described as a new tribe and sister to Scopulini (Sihvonen et al., 2020). [4]

Furthermore, a number of genera are unplaced to a tribe, these are:

It has been shown that Sterrhinae-associated taxa have been classified into incorrect subfamilies. Examples include the following transfers:

Former genera

Former genera include:

Related Research Articles

<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. Geometridae is a very large family, containing around 23,000 described species; over 1400 species from six subfamilies are indigenous to North America alone. A well-known member is the peppered moth, Biston betularia, which has been the subject of numerous studies in population genetics. Several other geometer moths are notorious pests.

<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">Hemitheini</span> Tribe of moths

Though small in absolute diversity of genera, the Hemitheini are nonetheless the largest tribes of geometer moths in the subfamily Geometrinae. Like most Geometrinae, they are small greenish "emerald moths". The tribe was first described by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1846.

<i>Dithalama cosmospila</i> Species of moth

Dithalama cosmospila is a species of moth of the family Geometridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888. It is found in Australia.

Isoplenodia is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae. It formerly consisted of only one species, Isoplenodia arrogans, found on Madagascar, but new species were described in 2010.

<i>Lythria</i> Genus of moths

Lythria is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Jacob Hübner in 1823. It is the only genus of the monotypic tribe Lythriini described by Claude Herbulot in 1962.

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

Scopulini is a tribe of the geometer moth family (Geometridae), with about 900 species in seven genera. The tribe was described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1845.

Scopula addictaria is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1861. It is found in Sri Lanka.

Scopula andalusiaria is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Spain and western North Africa.

Scopula bullata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in the Baluchistan region of Iran.

Scopula origalis is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Iran (Laristan).

Scopula cesa is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Korea.

Scopula terminata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Afghanistan, Pakistan and China.

Caberini is a tribe of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae. There are at least 50 described species in Caberini.

<i>Tornos</i> (moth) Genus of moths

Tornos is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae erected by Morrison in 1875. There are about 17 described species in Tornos.

<i>Chiricahua</i> (moth) Genus of moths

Chiricahua is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae. There are at least two described species in the genus Chiricahua.

Letispe is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae described by Alexander Douglas Campbell Ferguson in 2008. Its one described species, Letispe metanemaria, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1887, is found in southwest North America in Arizona, California, Sonora and Baja California.

Parilexia is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae. There are at least three described species in Parilexia.

<i>Ilexia</i> Genus of moths

Ilexia is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Ilexia intractata.

<i>Boudinotiana</i> Genus of moths

Boudinotiana is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae. There are at least four described species in Boudinotiana.

References

  1. ↑ Erki Õunap, Jaan Viidalepp & Urmas Saarma: "Systematic position of Lythriini revised: transferred from Larentiinae to Sterrhinae (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)". Zoologica Scripta, 37(4): 405-413, Oxford 2008 doi : 10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00327.x
  2. ↑ Tribe Scopulini recognised after revision Pasi Sihvonen (2005) at the moment only seven genera
  3. ↑ Sihvonen, Pasi; Murillo‐Ramos, Leidys; Brehm, Gunnar; Staude, Hermann; Wahlberg, Niklas (2020). "Molecular phylogeny of Sterrhinae moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): towards a global classification". Systematic Entomology. 45 (3): 606–634. doi:10.1111/syen.12418. hdl: 10138/330503 . ISSN   1365-3113. S2CID   219908653.
  4. ↑ Sihvonen, Pasi; Murillo‐Ramos, Leidys; Brehm, Gunnar; Staude, Hermann; Wahlberg, Niklas (2020). "Molecular phylogeny of Sterrhinae moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): towards a global classification". Systematic Entomology. 45 (3): 606–634. doi:10.1111/syen.12418. hdl: 10138/330503 . ISSN   1365-3113. S2CID   219908653.

Literature

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