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Glossata

(Suborder)

Overview

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Glossata is the of the insect order Lepidoptera that includes all the superfamilies of moths and butterflies that have a coilable proboscis. (See also the suborders Zeugloptera, Aglossata and Heterobathmiina).

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Suborder Glossata is a member of the Order Lepidoptera. Here is the complete "parentage" of Glossata:

The Suborder Glossata is further organized into finer groupings including:

Families

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Acrolepiidae

The Acrolepiidae family of are also known as False Diamondback moths. [more]

Adelidae

The "fairy long horn moths" are a family of primitive moths in the order Lepidoptera. Most species of 'Adelidae are day-flying, sometimes swarming around the tips of branches with an undulating flight, with metallic patterns. Fairy moths have a wingspan of 4-28 millimeters and males often have especially long antennae 1-3 times as long as the forewing. They are widespread across the World and can be found over much of North America and Eurasia from April to June. 50 species occur in Europe[1] of which the most often noticed is the "Green Oak Longhorn" Adela reaumurella which can sometimes reach great abundance, and this peak is receding due to climate change (Kuchlein and Ellis, 2004). [more]

Alucitidae

The Alucitidae or many-plumed moths are a of moths with unusually modified wings. This is a small family, with about 130 worldwide species having been described to date mostly from temperate and warm regions (not tropical); sometimes the roughly 20 Tineodidae species are merged herein, making the Alucitoidea superfamily monotypic. [more]

Arctiidae

Arctiidae is a large and diverse family of with around 11,000 species found all over the world, with 6000 Neotropical species (Scoble 1995). This family includes the groups commonly known as tiger moths (or tigers), which usually have bright colors, footmen (which are usually much drabber), lichen moths and wasp moths. Many species have 'hairy' caterpillars which are popularly known as woolly bears or woolly worms. The scientific name refers to this (Gk. a??t?? = a bear). Caterpillars may also go by the name 'tussock moths' (more usually this refers to Lymantriidae, however). [more]

Argyresthiidae

Argyresthia is a genus of in the Argyresthiidae family. [more]

Blastobasidae

Blastobasidae is a family of with species found in all parts of the world. These are generally small, slender moths with muted colors (Edward Meyrick described the group as "obscure and dull colored moths, decidedly the least attractive family of Lepidoptera"). The larvae feed openly, usually on dead organic matter. Some species are pests of stored foodstuffs. [more]

Carposinidae

Carposinidae, the "fruitworm moths" is a of insects in the lepidopteran order. These moths are narrower winged than Copromorphidae, with less rounded forewing tips. Males often have conspicuous patches of scales on either surface (Dugdale et al., 1999). The mouthparts are quite diagnostic, usually with prominent, upcurved "labial palps", the third segment long (especially in females), 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 (Dugdale et al., 1999). The Palearctic species have been revised by Diakonoff (1989). [more]

Castniidae

Castniidae, or castniid moths, is a small family of with less 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 colored 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 (Edwards et al., 1999: 184-188). [more]

Choreutidae

Choreutidae, or "metalmark moths," are a 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 (Minet, 1986). The relationship of the family to the other lineages in the group "Apoditrysia" [1] need a new assessment, especially with new molecular data. [more]

Coleophoridae

Coleophoridae is a family of with about 1050 species, the vast majority (about 1000) belonging to the huge genus Coleophora (numerous splits have been proposed for this immense genus but have not been widely accepted - most of the genus names listed right refer to these proposed new genera). The family is represented on all continents but the majority are found in temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. [more]

Cosmopterigidae

Cosmopterigidae is a of insects in the Lepidoptera order. These are small moths with narrow wings whose tiny larvae feed internally on the leaves, seeds, stems, etc of their host plants. [more]

Cyclidiidae

Cyclidiinae is a small of the Drepanidae moths. They occur in Southeast Asia. Their caterpillars feed on Alangium (Alangiaceae). In some treatments, they are raised to full family status. [more]

Dioptidae

[more]

Elachistidae

The Elachistidae are a family of (moths). [more]

Epicopeiidae

Epicopeiidae is a of insects in the Lepidoptera order. They are known as Oriental Swallowtail Moths as they resemble Oriental Swallowtail butterflies so well. [more]

Gelechiidae

The Gelechiidae, Gelechiid moths, are a family of (moths). These are generally very small moths with narrow, fringed wings. The larvae of most species feed internally on various parts of their host plants, sometimes causing galls. [more]

Glyphipterigidae

Glyphipterigidae is a family of small commonly known as sedge moths as the larvae of many species feed on sedges and rushes. [more]

Heliodinidae

Heliodinidae is a family of small with slender bodies and narrow wings. Members of this family are found in all parts of the world. [more]

Heliozelidae

A family of primitive moths in the order Lepidoptera. Heliozelidae are small, metallic day-flying moths with shiny smooth heads, In Europe the small adult moths (genera Antispila and Heliozela) are seldom noticed as they fly quite early in the Spring. The larvae are leaf miners[1] and the vacated leaf mines are distinctive because the larva leaves a large hole at the end. [more]

Hepialidae

The Hepialidae is a of insects in the lepidopteran order. Moths of this family are often referred to as swift moths or ghost moths. [more]

Himantopteridae

Himantopteridae is a of insects in the Lepidoptera order. [more]

Immidae

Immoidea is a superfamily of moths containing only the family Immidae comprising ten genera with around 250 species, over half of them in the genus Imma. Many are brightly colored and diurnal. The position of this group is currently uncertain within the group Obtectomera[1]. The larvae feed on the leaves of dicotyledons and conifers including Podocarpus (Dugdale et al. 1999). [more]

Lacturidae

Lacturidae is a of insects in the Lepidoptera order. Brighly colored tropical moths Lacturidae have been previously placed in Plutellidae, Yponomeutidae and Hyponomeutidae. [more]

Lecithoceridae

Lecithoceridae is a family of small . Although lecithocerids are found throughout the world, the great majority are found in the Indomalaya ecozone and the southern part of the Palaearctic ecozone. [more]

Lymantriidae

Lymantriidae or Liparidae is a of moths with about 350 known genera and over 2,500 known species found all over the world, in every continent except Antarctica. They are particularly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia and South America; one estimate lists 258 species in Madagascar alone (Schaefer, 1989). Apart from oceanic islands, notable places that do not host Lymantriids include New Zealand, the Antilles, and New Caledonia (Schaefer , 1989). [more]

Lyonetiidae

Lyonetiidae is a family of . These are small, slender moths, the wingspan rarely exceeding 1 cm. The very narrow forewings, held folded backwards covering the hindwings and abdomen, often have pointed apices noticeably up- or down-turned. The larvae are leaf miners. [more]

Megalopygidae

Megalopygidae is the technical name of a group of insect species known generally as crinkled flannel moths, or simply Flannel Moths. They occur in North America (11 species) and the New World tropics. The larvae are called Puss , and with their long hairs, resemble cotton balls. They have venomous spines that can cause a painful sting and inflammation lasting for several days. In some cases, the sting may cause headache, nausea, and shock-like symptoms. Perhaps the most notorious for stinging is the caterpillar of Megalopyge opercularis. [more]

Momphidae

Momphidae is a family of . These tend to be rather small moths with a wingspan of up to 21 mm. The wings are held folded over the body at rest. The larvae are concealed feeders, either as leaf miners or within seeds or stems. [more]

Nepticulidae

Nepticulidae is a of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes (see also Opostegidae, Bucculatricidae, Lyonetiidae). These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, include the smallest of all living moths, with a wingspan that can be as little as 3 mm. in the case of the European Pigmy Sorrel Moth[1], but more usually 3.5-10 mm. The wings of adult moths are narrow and lanceolate, sometimes with metallic markings, and with the venation very simplified compared to most other moths. [more]

Notodontidae

Notodontidae is a family of with approximately 3,500 known species. Moths of this family are found in all parts of the world, but they are most concentrated in tropical areas, especially in the New World (Miller, 1992). The Thaumetopoeidae (processionary moths) are sometimes included here as a subfamily. [more]

Oecophoridae

The Oecophoridae are a family of (moths). [more]

Opostegidae

Opostegidae or "white eyecap moths" is a family of in the Lepidoptera order that is characterised by particularly large eyecaps over the compound eyes (see also Nepticulidae, Bucculatricidae, Lyonetiidae).Opostegidae are most divere in the New World tropics (83 described species, representing 42% of the world total). [more]

Plutellidae

Plutellidae is a family of . Some authors consider this family to be a subfamily of Yponomeutidae. [more]

Prodoxidae

Prodoxidae is a family of primitive Lepidoptera. Some of these small-to-medium sized moths are day flying, like Lampronia capitella, known to European gardeners as the "Currant Shoot Borer"[1]. Others occur in Africa and Asia.Tetragma gei feeds on Mountain Avens Geum triflorum in USA. Greya politella lay eggs in the flowers of Saxifragaceae there. The last five genera listed here are confined to dry areas of the United States. Prodoxoides asymmetra occurs in Chile and Argentina (Nielsen and Davis, 1985), but all other prodoxid moth genera have a northern distribution. [more]

Pterophoridae

The Pterophoridae or plume- are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. The fore-wings consist of (usually) two curved spars with more or less bedraggled bristles trailing behind (compare the greater number of symmetrical plumes of the Alucitidae). The hind wings are similarly constructed on three spars. A few genera have normal lepidopteran wings. [more]

Pyralidae

The Pyralidae or snout are a family of Lepidoptera. [more]

Scythrididae

Gelechioidea is the superfamily of moths that includes case bearers and relatives. Gelechioidea is a large and poorly understood superfamily belonging to the order Lepidoptera, (Moths and Butterflies). Gelechioidea is composed of approximately 1,425 genera and 16,250 species (Hodges, 1998). Hodges estimates that only 25% of the species diversity of Gelechioidea has been described. If this estimate is accurate, Gelechioidea will be one of the largest superfamilies of Lepidoptera. [more]

Sesiidae

The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a family of the in which the wings have hardly any of the normal lepidopteran scales, leaving them transparent. The bodies are generally striped with yellow, sometimes very brightly, and they have simple antennae. The general appearance is sufficiently similar to a wasp or hornet to make it likely that the moths gain a reduction in predation by Batesian mimicry. This enables them to be active in daylight. They are commonly collected using pheromone lures.Worldwide there are 151 genera, 1370 species , and 50 subspecies.Most of these occur in the tropics, but there are many species in the Holarctic region. [more]

Somabrachyidae

Somabrachyidae is a of moth in the order Lepidoptera. [more]

Sphingidae

Sphingidae is a family of moths (), commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species (Grimaldi & Engel, 2005). It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region (Scoble, 1995). They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability (Scoble, 1995). The narrow wings and streamlined abdomen are clearly adaptations for rapid flight. [more]

Thyrididae

Thyrididae is the picture-winged leaf moths of moths in the Lepidoptera order. They alone make up the Thyridoidea superfamily, which is sometimes included in the Pyraloidea (though this is not supported by cladistic analysis. [more]

Tischeriidae

Tischerioidea is the superfamily of "trumpet" moths. This is one candidate as the sister group (see also Palaephatoidea) of the bulk of Lepidoptera, the Ditrysia (Davis, 1999; Wiegmann et al., 2002), and they have a monotrysian type of female reproductive system. The superfamily contains just one family and traditionally one genus, Tischeria, but currently three genera are recognised, widespread across the World including South America (Davis, 1986), except for Australasia (Puplesis and Diskus, 2003). These small moths are leaf-miners[1] in the caterpillar stage, feeding mainly on Fagaceae (Tischeria and Coptotriche), Asteraceae and Malvaceae (Astrotischeria), and some also on Rhamnaceae, Tiliaceae and Rosaceae[2][3]. [more]

Tortricidae

Tortricidae is a family of moths in the order . They are commonly known as tortrix moths. It is a large family with over 6,300 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea. Many of these are economically important pests. Olethreutidae is a junior synonym. The typical resting posture is with the wings folded back producing a rather rounded profile. [more]

Uraniidae

The Uraniidae are a of moths containing four subfamilies, ninety genera, and roughly seven-hundred species. Some tropical species are known for their bright, butterfly-like colors and are called sunset moths (for example Chrysiridia rhipheus). Such moths are apparently toxic and the bright colors are a warning to predators. [more]

Zygaenidae

The Zygaenidae are a family of (moths) typically day-flying with a slow fluttering flight, and with rather clubbed antennae. They generally have a metallic sheen and often prominent spots of red or yellow. The bright colors are a warning to predators that the moths are distasteful - they contain hydrogen cyanide throughout all stages of their life-cycle. Unlike most insects with such toxins, they manufacture these themselves rather than obtaining them from host plants (Scoble 1992). They are known to have mimicry complexes based on these toxins (Naumann et al., 1999). [more]

At least 32 species and subspecies belong to the Family Zygaenidae.

More info about the Family Zygaenidae may be found here.

Sources

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Last Revised: November 19, 2008