Synemon

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Synemon
Synemon discalis 30391076.jpg
Synemon discalis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Castniidae
Subfamily: Castniinae
Tribe: Synemonini
Genus: Synemon
Doubleday, 1846
Species

See text

Synemon (commonly known as the Sun-moths) is a genus of moths within the family Castniidae. It was described by Edward Doubleday in 1846. [1] The genus contains 24 described and 20 undescribed species. [2] These species are found across mainland Australia and on Kangaroo Island, with the highest diversity in Western Australia. [2] Synemon species can be found in a range of habitats, including woodlands, heathlands and native perennial grasslands. [2] The adults fly during the daytime in warm to hot weather. [2] They have clubbed antennae, and are often mistaken for butterflies. [3]

Sun-moths typically have dull coloured forewings which, at rest, conceal their brightly coloured hindwings. [2] The hindwings can be used to startle potential predators. [3] All known larvae of sun-moths feed on monocotyledonous plants, such as Rytidosperma , Gahnia , Lepidosperma and Lomandra. [3] Since European settlement, many species have suffered drastic reductions in their distributions due to habitat loss from agriculture and other threats. [2] Some are listed as threatened, including Synemon plana, which is listed as critically endangered under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . [4]

Species

The genus includes the following species:

Related Research Articles

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

The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a diurnal moth family in the order Lepidoptera known for their Batesian mimicry in both appearance and behaviour of various Hymenoptera.

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

Castniidae, or castniid moths, is a small family of moths with fewer than 200 species: The majority are Neotropical with some in Australia and a few in south-east Asia. These are medium-sized to very large moths, usually with drab, cryptically-marked forewings and brightly coloured hindwings. They have clubbed antennae and are day flying, and are often mistaken for butterflies. Indeed, some previous classification systems placed this family within the butterflies or skippers. The Neotropical species are commonly known as giant butterfly-moths, the Australian and Asian species as sun moths. The larvae are internal feeders, often on roots of epiphytes or on monocotyledons.

<i>Synemon plana</i> Species of moth

Synemon plana, commonly known as the golden sun moth, is a diurnal moth native to Australia and throughout its range, it is currently classified as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

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

Athis is a genus of moths within the family Castniidae. It was described by Jacob Hübner in 1819.

<i>Synemon theresa</i> Species of moth

Synemon theresa, the cryptic sun-moth, is a species of day-flying moth of the family Castniidae. It was described by Edward Doubleday in 1846. It has a wingspan of 26-40mm, and is mostly grey-brown with orange hindwings. Native to Australia, this species is extinct in Victoria, and is now only known from a relatively small area of South Australia near Adelaide. It uses Themeda triandra and Rytidopserma spp. as larval food plants. Adults can be found from December to February. They only live for a few days, as they do not have a feeding proboscis. Despite becoming extinct over much of its former range, the cryptic sun-moth is not listed as a threatened species in South Australia.

<i>Synemon discalis</i> Species of moth

Synemon discalis, the small orange-spotted sun-moth, is a moth in the Castniidae family. It is found in Australia, including South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.

Synemon jcaria, the reddish-orange sun-moth, is a moth in the Castniidae family. It is found in Australia, including Victoria.

Synemon nais, the orange sun-moth, is a moth in the Castniidae family. It is found in Australia, including Victoria, South Australia and south-eastern Western Australia.

<i>Synemon parthenoides</i> Species of moth

Synemon parthenoides, the orange-spotted sunmoth or link moth, is a moth in the Castniidae family. It is found in Australia, including Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.

Synemon selene, the pale sun-moth, is a moth in the Castniidae family. It is found in Australia, including Victoria and South Australia.

<i>Synemon gratiosa</i> Species of moth

Synemon gratiosa, the graceful sun-moth, is a moth in the Castniidae family. It is found in Western Australia, from Namburg National Park in the north to Mandurah in the south.

References

  1. ↑ "Synemon at funet.fi". Nic.funet.fi. 2005-09-24. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Douglas, Fabian (January 2007). "THE SUN-MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA:CASTNIIDAE) OF VICTORIA, WITH A DETAILED STUDY OF THE PALE SUN-MOTH (Synemon selene KLUG, 1850)" (PDF). Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 McQuillan, P; Forrest, J; Keane, D; Grund, R (2019). CATERPILLARS, MOTHS AND THEIR PLANTS of southern Australia. Butterfly Conservation South Australia Inc. ISBN   978-0-646-80648-8.
  4. ↑ "Significant impact guidelines for the critically endangered golden sun moth (Synemon plana)" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2023.


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