Notodontidae (Family)

Overview

Notodontidae is a family of moths with approximately 3,800 known species.^1] 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.

Species of this family tend to be heavy-bodied and long-winged, the wings held folded across the back of the body at rest. They rarely display any bright colors, usually being mainly grey or brown, with the exception of the Dioptinae subfamily (Grimaldi and Engel, 2005). These features mean they rather resemble Noctuidae although the families are not closely related. The adults do not feed. Many species have a tuft of hair on the trailing edge of the forewing which protrudes upwards at rest. This gives them the common name of prominents. The common names of some other species reflect their hairiness, such as Puss Moth and the group commonly known as kittens (Furcula spp.), so named as they resemble small versions of the Puss Moth.

Life cycle

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Egg

The egg is hemisperical or almost spherical, and lacks any ribs (Scoble, 1995).

Larvae

The caterpillars are usually hairless, but may have tubercules, spines, or humps (Scoble 1995), and often rest with both ends raised. The last set of prolegs is frequently vestigial, or may be long, with glands that can be everted. Some larvae undergo shape modification and color changes with each instar (Weller, 1992). Notodontid larvae are notable for their often bizarre shapes, and some have chemical defenses (cyanic acid, formic acid, and other ketones: Blum, 1981) not commonly found in other Lepidoptera (Weller 1992). Schizura unicornis and S. badia have a mixture of formic acid, acetic acid and other compounds which they spray a ccurately at their attacker (Attygalle et al., 1993).

Stauropus fagi larva

The larvae of some species are truly extraordinary: That of the Puss Moth has a fearsome-looking "face" and two long whip-like "tails" (actually highly modified prolegs) and it rears both ends in a threatening display when disturbed. The larva of the Lobster Moth is even more remarkable, resembling a crustacean. Others, such as Cerura vinula try to mimic the edge of a leaf that has been damaged and is turning brown (they rest and feed along the edge of the leaf).

Most are solitary feeders, but some are gregarious, and this is most common in the processionary moths, Thaumetopoeinae.

They feed on trees and shrubs, except in the subfamily Dioptinae, which feed on herbaceous plants (Miller, 1992). The larvae typically feed on only one family of trees, but closely related species will feed on distantly related plants; for example different members of the genus Datana feed on Juglandaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Ericaceae and Anacardiaceae (Miller 1992).

Adults

Adults have tympanal organs on the metathorax that opens towards the top, and the tibial spurs have serrated edges (Scoble, 1995). Mouthparts vary from well-developed to absent. The Dioptinae, which was formerly considered a separate family, are colorful and fly by day, while the rest of the notodontids are nocturnal. Some of these Dioptinae have non-functional tympanal hearing organs which are normally defensive against bats (Fullard et al., 1997).

Importance

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Some notodontids cause noticeable defoliation of their hosts. Well-known defoliators include: the saddled prominent Heterocampa guttivita, popl ar defoliator Clostera cupreata , California oakworm Phryganidia californica, the beech caterpillar, Quadricalcarifera punctatella, variable oakleaf caterpillar Lochmaeus manteo, Epicerura pergisea, yellownecked caterpillars Datana ministra, and walnut caterpillar Datana integerrima, among others.

Systematics

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Notable species are:

Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)
Puss Moth (Cerura vinula)
Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi)
Poplar Kitten (Furcula bifida)
Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)
Rough Prominent (Nadata gibbosa)

Apart from the subfamilies listed above, there are numerous notodontid genera of uncertain relationships. These are:

rmic acid, acetic acid and other compounds which they spray accurately at their attacker (Attygalle et al., 1993).

Stauropus fagi larva

Most are solitary feeders, but some are gregarious, and this is most common in the processionary moths, Thaumetopoeinae.

Adults

Importance

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Some notodontids cause noticeable defoliation of their hosts. Well-known defoliators include: the saddled prominent Heterocampa guttivita, poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata , California oakworm Phryganidia californica, the beech caterpillar, Quadricalcarifera punctatella, variable oakleaf caterpillar Lochmaeus manteo, Epicerura pergisea, yellownecked caterpillars Datana ministra, and walnut caterpillar Datana integerrima, among others.

Systematics

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Notable species are:

Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)
Puss Moth (Cerura vinula)
Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi)
Poplar Kitten (Furcula bifida)
Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)
Rough Prominent (Nadata gibbosa)

Apart from the subfamilies listed above, there are numerous notodontid genera of uncertain relationships. These are:

References

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Attygalle, AB, S. Smedley, J. Meinwald and T. Eisner. 1993. Defensive secretion of 2 notodontid caterpillars. J. Chem Ecol 19(10):2089-2104.

Blum, M.S. 1981. Chemical Defenses of Arthropods. Academic Press, New York.

Chinery, Michael. 1991. Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)

Fullard, James, Jeff W. Dawson, L. Daniel Otero, Annemarie Surlykke. 1997. Bat-deafness in day-flying moths (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae, Dioptinae). Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 181(5): 477-483

Grimaldi, D, and MS Engel, 2005. Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press.

Miller, James. 1992. Host-plant association among prominent moths. BioScience 42 (1): 50-56.

Scoble, MJ. 1995. The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. Second ed. Oxford University Press.

Skinner, Bernard. 1984. color Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles

Weller, SJ. 1992. Survey of Adult Morphology in Nystaleinae and Related Neotropical Subfamilies (Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 31(3-4):233-277.

^ van Nieukerken et al. (2011). "Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness". Zootaxa 3148: 212?221. http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt03148p221.pdf.

External links

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Family Notodontidae at Lepidoptera.pro
azalea caterpillar, Datana major on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

Taxonomy

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The Family Notodontidae is a member of the Superfamily Noctuoidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Notodontidae:

Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
  - Subkingdom: Bilateria (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
    - Branch: Protostomia Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
      - Infrakingdom: Ecdysozoa A.M.A. Aguinaldo et al., 1997 ex T. Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - ecdysozoans
        Superphylum: Panarthropoda Cuvier
        Phylum: Arthropoda Latreille, 1829 - Arthropods
        Subphylum: Mandibulata Snodgrass, 1938
        Infraphylum: Atelocerata Heymons, 1901
        Superclass: Panhexapoda
        Class: Insecta C. Linnaeus, 1758 - Insects
        Subclass: Dicondylia
        Infraclass: Pterygota - Winged Insects
        Cohort: Myoglossata
        Superorder: Amphiesmenoptera
        Order: Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758 - Butterflies and Moths
        Suborder: Glossata
        Infraorder: Heteroneura - a genus of Longhorned Beetles (Cerambycidae)
        Superfamily: Noctuoidea
        Family: Notodontidae - Prominent Moths

The Family Notodontidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Subfamily (4): Noctuinae · Oedipodinae · Pygaerinae · Thaumetopoeinae
Genus (745): Acasina · Achaera · Acmeshachia · Acrasiella · Acrasiodes · Acroctena · Actea · Adrallia · Afilia · Afrocerura · Afrogluphisia · Afroplitis · Afropteryx · Afropydna · Aglaosoma · Alatanadata · Allata · Allodonta · Allodontina · Ambadra · Ambina · Amphiphalera · Amyops · Analama · Andocidia · Anita · Anotodonta · Antaea · Antheua · Antheuella · Antheusina · Antichadisra · Anticleapa · Anticoreura · Antifentonia · Antimima · Antiopha · Antiora · Antiphalera · Antiscranciola · Antistaura · Antithemerastis · Antitrotonotus · Antizana · Antoroka · Antsalova · Anurocampa · Aoba · Apela · Apistaeschra · Apocinesia · Aprosdocetos · Archigargetta · Archinadata · Archistilbia · Arciera · Argyrothyris · Arhacia · Arpema · Artanasa · Arunda · Astapa · Astaura · Astylis · Atornoptera · Atrasana · Authyala · Axiocleta · Azaxia · Bahaia · Baliopteryx · Baradesa · Barbarossula · Bardaxima · Barydia · Batempa · Belisaria · Benbowia · Bernardita · Besaia · Besida · Betashachia · Bifurcifer · Bilulua · Biraia · Bireta · Bisolita · Biula · Blakeia · Blennema · Boreostaura · Boriza · Boscawenia · Bostrychogyna · Brachychira · Brachyglene · Brecontia · Briachisia · Brykia · Bugandita · Cacolyces · Calapana · Calledema · Calomathetes · Calyptronotum · Campyloctys · Canodia · Cargida · Cascera · Caschara · Castastygne · Catarctia · Catochria · Ceira · Ceraeotricha · Cerasana · Cerura · Cerurella · Cerurina · Cerurites · Chadisra · Chadisrella · Chadisrina · Chadisrochroa · Chadisroides · Chalepa · Chliara · Chlorocalliope · Chloroceramis · Chlorochadisra · Chlorostauropus · Chokaia · Cimbina · Cleapa · Cleptophasia · Clostera · Closterellus · Cnethodonta · Colax · Commonia · Contrebia · Corania · Coscodaca · Cottobara · Coxeya · Crambometra · Crestonica · Crinodes · Ctianopha · Curuzza · Cyanotricha · Cynosarga · Cyphanta · Damata · Danima · Darabitta · Dasippia · Dasychirella · Dasylophia · Datana · Daulopaectes · Deinarchia · Deriddera · Desmeocraera · Desmeocraerula · Destolmia · Dicentria · Diceratostaura · Diceratucha · Dicranura · Didugua · Diloba · Dinotodonta · Diodorina · Diopeithes · Dioptis · Disparia · Disphragis · Disracha · Docyna · Dognina · Dolophrosyne · Dottia · Dragonera · Drapetides · Drastoma · Drugera · Drymonia · Dudusa · Dugonia · Dunama · Dyasia · Dypna · Ecnomodes · Egonociades · Eguria · Elaphrodes · Eligmodonta · Ellida · Elymiotis · Enomotarcha · Epanaphe · Epicerura · Epicerurina · Epicoma · Epicosmolopha · Epidonta · Epimetula · Epinotodonta · Epiptilodontis · Epistauropus · Epitrotonotus · Epodonta · Eragisa · Eramos · Erbessa · Erconholda · Eriodonta · Euanthia · Eubreyeria · Eucerura · Euchontha · Eudmoe · Eudognina · Eufentonia · Euhampsonia · Euhapigiodes · Euharpyia · Euhyparpax · Eujansea · Eulavinia · Eumaschane · Eunotela · Euphastia · Eupydna · Eurystaura · Eurystaurella · Eurystauridia · Eurystauropsis · Euscoturopsis · Eushachia · Eustema · Eustemides · Eutornopera · Eutricholoba · Eutrotonotus · Euxoga · Exaereta · Exantongila · Fanambana · Farigia · Fentonia · Fentonina · Formofentonia · Formotensha · Furcula · Fusapteryx · Gaedeina · Galanthella · Gallaba · Galona · Galos · Gangarides · Gangaridopsis · Gargetta · Gargettiana · Gargettina · Gargettoscrancia · Gazalina · Getta · Ginaldia · Ginshachia · Gisara · Gluphisia · Goacampa · Goaxis · Gonoclostera · Gopha · Grafiria · Grangula · Grangulina · Graphidurina · Graptophalera · Griphocerura · Hadesina · Hagapteryx · Hamidonta · Hampsonita · Hapigia · Hapigiodes · Haplozana · Harpandrya · Harpyia · Helga · Hemiceras · Hemicerus · Hemifentonia · Hemipecteros · Heorta · Heraia · Heteorcampa · Hexafrenum · Higena · Himeropteryx · Hippia · Hiradonta · Hobartina · Homocentridia · Honveda · Hunyada · Hupodonta · Hylaeora · Hypambadra · Hyparpax · Hyperaeschra · Hyperaeschrella · Hypostaurella · Hypostauropus · Hypsoides · Ichthyura · Induba · Innisca · Inouella · Iostaura · Iphigeniella · Iridoplitis · Isostyla · Italaviana · Janthinisca · Josia · Jozinia · Jurivalentinia · Kakostauropus · Kalkoma · Kaseria · Khasidonta · Kikuchiana · Kumataia · Kurtia · Lamorina · Lamoriodes · Lampronadata · Lasioceros · Lebadia · Lemairegisa · Lepasta · Leptactea · Leptolepida · Leptonadata · Leptonadatoides · Leucodonta · Leucolopha · Libido · Liccana · Liparopsis · Lirimiris · Liriochroa · Litodonta · Lobeza · Lochmaeus · Loda · Lomela · Lophocosma · Lophodonta · Lophontosia · Lophopteryx · Lopiena · Loudonta · Loxobireta · Lusura · Lygrotes · Lymphorta · Lysana · Macronadata · Macrosenta · Macrurocampa · Magava · Maguila · Mainiella · Malgadonta · Malocampa · Malupa · Marcella · Margaropsecas · Marthantia · Marthula · Maschane · Medanella · Megaceramis · Melagona · Melagonina · Meragisa · Mesaeschra · Mesodrepta · Mesonadata · Mesophalera · Metarctina · Metaschalis · Metascrancia · Metopolophota · Metopteryx · Metriaeschra · Microchadisra · Micromelalopha · Microphalera · Mimesisomera · Mimodonta · Mimopoydna · Mimopydna · Minara · Miostauropus · Mismia · Misogada · Monocreagra · Moresa · Myonia · Nadata · Nagidusa · Narriocampa · Navarcostes · Neoblacodes · Neobourquinia · Neocerura · Neoclostera · Neodrymonia · Neoharpyia · Neola · Neopheosia · Neophyta · Neostauropus · Nepheliphora · Nephodonta · Nerice · Nesanaphe · Nesebra · Nesebroides · Nesochadisra · Nesoptilura · Netria · Niganda · Noctulodes · Norraca · Norracana · Norracoides · Notela · Notocerura · Notodonta · Notodontella · Notoplusia · Notoxantha · Nycteropa · Nyssiopsis · Nystalea · Ochrocalliope · Ochrosomera · Ochrostigma · Odnarda · Odontoperas · Odontosia · Odontosiana · Odontosina · Odoxia · Oglana · Ogulina · Oligaeschra · Oligocentria · Oligoclona · Olophontosia · Omestia · Omocerina · Oraura · Oreocerura · Oricia · Ortholomia · Otpada · Ottachana · Oxoia · Oxymetopa · Pachycispia · Pachyscranciola · Pagrasana · Palaeostauropus · Palessa · Pamcoloma · Pantanopsis · Panteleclita · Pantherinus · Parabasis · Parachadisra · Paracleapa · Paradestolmia · Paradiastema · Paradioptis · Paradrallia · Paragluphisia · Paralerodes · Paranerice · Paraphlebs · Pararethona · Pararhenea · Pararheneades · Parascrancia · Parasinga · Parastaura · Paratrotonotus · Paulisana · Pauluma · Pellewia · Peltostaura · Pentobesa · Peratodonta · Peridea · Periergos · Periphalera · Peroara · Peroma · Phaeochlaena · Phalera · Phalerina · Phalerodonta · Phanoptis · Phastia · Phavaraea · Phedosia · Pheosia · Pheosilla · Pheosiopsis · Pheraspis · Pheressaces · Phoesia · Phryganidia · Phycidopsis · Phycitimorpha · Phyllaliodes · Phyllopalpia · Pilodonta · Pinheyia · Pittheides · Plastystaura · Platychasma · Plusiogramma · Podocryptula · Poecilopheosia · Polelassothys · Polienus · Poliostauropus · Polychoa · Polypoetes · Polyptychia · Polystictina · Poncetia · Pontala · Pontalamia · Poresta · Porsica · Postanita · Praeschausia · Procolax · Pronerice · Prosphoroplitis · Psalisodes · Pseudallata · Pseudantiora · Pseudhapigia · Pseudhemiceras · Pseudobarobata · Pseudodryas · Pseudofentonia · Pseudogargetta · Pseudohoplitis · Pseudohypsoides · Pseudonerice · Pseudorethona · Pseudoricia · Pseudoscrancia · Pseudostauropus · Pseudoteleclita · Pseudoturnaca · Psilacron · Psorocampa · Pterostoma · Pterotes · Ptilodon · Ptilodontella · Ptilodontosia · Ptilophora · Ptilura · Ptilurodes · Pulia · Pycnographa · Pydnella · Pygaera · Pygaeridia · Pygaerina · Pyrsopsyche · Quadricalcarifera · Quista · Rabtala · Rachia · Rachiades · Ramesa · Rasemia · Rebita · Rhabdoturnaca · Rhapigia · Rhegmatophila · Rhenea · Rheneades · Rheneina · Rhuda · Rhudara · Rhynchophalera · Rhynchophalerina · Ribaldia · Rifargia · Rincodes · Roepkeella · Romaleostaura · Romalina · Roppa · Rosama · Rosema · Rosinella · Rosiora · Sagamora · Saliocleta · Salluca · Sarimarais · Sawia · Scaeopteryx · Scalmicauda · Scarnica · Scea · Scevesia · Schausiades · Schedostauropus · Schizura · Schoutenia · Scotodonta · Scotura · Scoturopsis · Scrancia · Scranciella · Scranciola · Scythrophanes · Semidonta · Sentana · Sericochroa · Shachia · Shachihoka · Shaka · Sidisca · Simesia · Sinodonta · Skewsia · Snellenita · Somera · Somerina · Someropsis · Sorama · Spatalia · Spatalina · Staurodonta · Stauropida · Stauroplitis · Stauropus · Stauropussa · Stemmatophalera · Stenadonta · Stenoplastis · Stenoshachia · Stenostaura · Stenostauridia · Stictogargetta · Stigmatophorina · Strophocerus · Struba · Subniganda · Subscrancia · Sumeria · Suriga · Suzukiana · Symmerista · Synete · Tachuda · Tagela · Taiwa · Takadonta · Talmeca · Talmenia · Tarsolepis · Teara · Tecmessa · Teinophalera · Teleclita · Tensha · Thaila · Thaumetopoea · Themerastis · Theroa · Thirmida · Thyana · Timoraca · Tithraustes · Tmetopteryx · Togarishachia · Togaritensha · Togepteryx · Tolimicola · Tolmiana · Torigea · Trabanta · Trichiocercus · Tricholoba · Trichomoplata · Trincomala · Tritophia · Trumanda · Turnaca · Turnacoides · Ulina · Ulinella · Ulinodes · Umncumbata · Urgedra · Urodonta · Uropyia · Ursia · Utidaviana · Vaneeckeia · Vietteella · Viridifentonia · Wilemanus · Xanthodonta · Xenoclostera · Xenomigia · Xenorma · Xenormicola · Yamatoa · Zamana · Zaranga · Zelica · Zelomera · Zerafia · Zunacetha
Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 5,470 species and subspecies in the Family Notodontidae.

Notodontidae

Overview

Life cycle

Egg

Larvae

Adults

Importance

Systematics

Adults

Importance

Systematics

References

External links

Taxonomy

Genera

Acasina

Achaera

Acmeshachia

Acrasiella

Acrasiodes

Acroctena

Actea

Adrallia

Afilia

Afrocerura

Afrogluphisia

Afroplitis

Afropteryx

Afropydna

Aglaosoma

Alatanadata

Allata

Allodonta

Allodontina

Ambadra

Ambina

Amphiphalera

Amyops

Analama

Andocidia

Anita

Anotodonta

Antaea

Antheua

Antheuella

Antheusina

Antichadisra

Anticleapa

Anticoreura

Antifentonia

Antimima

Antiopha

Antiora

Antiphalera

Antiscranciola

Antistaura

Antithemerastis

Antitrotonotus

Antizana

Antoroka

Antsalova

Anurocampa

Aoba

Apela

Apistaeschra

Apocinesia

Aprosdocetos

Archigargetta

Archinadata

Archistilbia

Arciera

Argyrothyris

Arhacia

Arpema

Artanasa

Arunda

Astapa

Astaura

Astylis

Atornoptera