Overview
The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblage called "Microlepidoptera".
The forewings of plume moths usually consist of two curved spars with more or less bedraggled bristles trailing behind. This resembles the closely related Alucitidae (many-plumed moths) at first glance, but the latter have a greater number of symmetrical plumes. The hindwi ngs are similarly constructed, but have three spars. A few genera have normal lepidopteran wings.
The usual resting posture is with the wings extended laterally and narrowly rolled up. Often they resemble a piece of dried grass, and may pass unnoticed by potential predators even when resting in exposed situations in daylight. Some species have larvae which are stem- or root-borers while others are leaf-browsers.
Economically important pterophorids include the Artichoke Plume Moth (Platyptilia carduidactyla), an Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) pest in California, while the Geranium Plume Moth (Platyptilia pica)[1] and the Snapdragon Plume Moth (Stenoptilodes antirrhina) can cause damage to the ornamental plants Garden Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) and Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), respectively. Other plume moths have been used as biological control agents against invasive plant species ? Lantanophaga pusillidactyla against West Indian Lantana (Lantana camara), Oidaematophorus beneficus against Mistflower (Ageratina riparia), Hellinsia balanotes against Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimifolia),[2] and Wheeleria spilodactylus against Horehound (Marrubium vulgare).[3]
Taxonomy
The family is divided into the following subfamilies, tribes and genera, some species are also listed:
Subfamily Agdistinae
- Genus Agdistis H?bner, 1825
- Agdistis bouyeri
- Agdistis linnaei
Subfamily Ochyroticinae
- Genus Ochyrotica
- Ochyrotica bjoernstadti
Subfamily Pterophorinae Zeller, 1841
- Tribe
Exelastini
- Genus Antarches
- Genus Arcoptilia
- Genus Exelastis
- Exelastis caroli
- Genus Fuscoptilia
- Genus Marasmarcha
- Tribe Oidaematophorini
- Genus Adaina
- Genus Crassuncus
- Genus Emmelina Tutt, 1905
- Emmelina monodactyla
- Genus Gypsochares
- Genus Hellinsia Tutt, 1905
- Hellinsia balanotes
- Hellinsia emmelinoida
- Genus Helpaphorus
- Genus Karachia
- Genus Oidaematophorus Wallengren, 1862
- Oidaematophorus beneficus
- Genus Paravinculia
- Genus Paulianilus
- Genus Picardia
- Genus Pselnophorus Wallengren, 1881
- Pselnophorus meruensis
- Genus Puerphorus
- Genus Setosipennula
- Tribe Oxyptilini
- Genus Apoxyptilus Alipanah et al., 2010
- Genus Buckleria Tutt, 1905
- Buckleria vanderwolfi
- Genus Capperia
- Genus Crombrugghia
- Genus Dejongia
- Genus Eucapperia
- Eucapperia continentalis
- Genus Geina
- Genus Intercapperia
- Genus Megalorhipida Amsel,
1935
- Megalorrhipida leucodactyla
- Genus Oxyptilus
- Genus Paracapperia
- Genus Prichotilus Rose and Pooni, 2003
- Genus Procapperia
- Genus Pseudoxyptilus Alipanah et al., 2010
- Genus Stangeia Tutt, 1905
- Stangeia xerodes
(Pterophorinae: Oxyptilini)
- Genus Stenodacma
- Genus Tomotilus
- Genus Trichoptilus
- Tribe Platyptilini
- Genus Amblyptilia H?bner, 1825
- Amblyptilia acanthadactyla
- Genus Anstenoptilia
- Genus Asiaephorus
- Genus Bigotilia
- Genus Bipunctiphorus
- Genus Buszkoiana
- Genus Cnaemidophorus Wallengren, 1862
- Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla
- Genus Crocydoscelus
- Genus Fletcherella
- Genus Gillmeria Tutt, 1905
- Gillmeria ochrodactyla
- Genus Inferuncus
- Genus Koremaguia
- Genus Lantanophaga Zimmermann, 1958
- Lantanophaga pusillidactyla
- Genus Leesi
- Genus Lioptilodes
- Genus Michaelophorus
- Genus Nippoptilia
- Genus Paraamblyptilia
- Genus Paraplatyptilia
- Genus Platyptilia H?bner, 1825
Platyptilia celidotus
(Pterophorinae: Platyptilini)
Platyptilia falcatalis
(Pterophorinae: Platyptilini)- Platyptilia aarviki
- Platyptilia carduidactyla ? Artichoke Plume Moth
- Platyptilia celidotus
- Platyptilia eberti
- Platyptilia falcatalis
- Platyptilia gonodactyla
- Platyptilia nussi
- Genus Platyptiliodes
- Genus Postplatyptilia
- Genus Quadriptilia
- Genus Sinpunctiptilia
- Sinpunctiptilia emissalis
- Genus Sochchora
- Genus Sphenarches
- Genus Stenoptilia H?bner, 1825
- Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla
- Stenoptilia kiitulo
- Stenoptilia pterodactyla
- Stenoptilia zophodactylus
- Genus Stenoptilodes Zimmermann, 1958
- Stenoptilodes antirrhina ? Snapdragon Plume Moth
- Genus Stockophorus
- Genus Uroloba
- Genus Vietteilus
- Genus Xyroptila
- Genus Amblyptilia H?bner, 1825
- Tribe Pterophorini
- Genus Calyciphora
- Genus Chocophorus
- Genus Cosmoclostis
- Cosmoclostis aglaodesma
- Cosmoclostis hemiadelpha
- Cosmoclostis pesseuta
- Genus Diacrotricha
- Genus Imbophorus
- Imbophorus aptalis
- Imbophorus leucophasmus
- Imbophorus pallidus
- Genus Merrifieldia
- Genus Oirata
- Genus Patagonophorus
- Genus Porrittia
- Genus Pterophorus
- Pterophorus pentadactyla ? White Plume Moth
- Genus Septuaginta
- Genus Singularia
- Genus Tabulaephorus
- Genus Wheeleria Tutt, 1905
- Wheeleria spilodactylus
- Tribe Tetraschalini
- Genus Macrotinactis
- Genus Titanoptilus
- Genus Tetraschalis
- Genus Walsinghamiella
Subfamily Deuterocopinae Gielis, 1993
- Genus Deuterocopus
- Genus Heptaloba
- Genus Hexadactilia
- Genus Leptodeuterocopus
Subfamily Macropiratinae
- Genus Agdistopis
Footnotes
The forewings of plume moths usually consist of two curved spars with more or less bedraggled bristles trailing behind. This resembles the closely related Alucitidae (many-plumed moths) at first glance, but the latter have a greater number of symmetrical plumes. The hindwings are similarly constructed, but have three spars. A few genera have normal lepidopteran wings.
The usual resting posture is with the wings extended laterally and narrowly rolled up. Often they resemble a piece of dried grass, and may pass unnoticed by potential predators even when resting in exposed situations in daylight. Some species have larvae which are stem- or root-borers while others are leaf-browsers.
Economically important pterophorids include the Artichoke Plume Moth (Platyptilia carduidactyla), an Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) pest in California, while the Geranium Plume Moth (Platyptilia pica)[1] and the Snapdragon Plume Moth (Stenoptilodes antirrhina) can cause damage to the ornamental plants Garden Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) and Common Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), respectively. Other plume moths have been used as biological control agents against invasive plant species ? Lantanophaga pusillidactyla against West Indian Lantana (Lantana camara), Oidaematophorus beneficus against Mistflower (Ageratina riparia), Hellinsia balanotes against Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimifolia),[2] and Wheeleria spilodactylus against Horehound (Marrubium vulgare).[3]
Taxonomy
The family is divided into the following subfamilies, tribes and genera, some species are also listed:
Subfamily Agdistinae
- Genus Agdistis H?bner, 1825
- Agdistis bouyeri
- Agdistis linnaei
Subfamily Ochyroticinae
- Genus Ochyrotica
- Ochyrotica bjoernstadti
Subfamily Pterophorinae Zeller, 1841
- Tribe Exelastini
- Genus Antarches
- Genus Arcoptilia
- Genus Exelastis
- Exelastis caroli
- Genus Fuscoptilia
- Genus Marasmarcha
- Tribe Oidaematophorini
- Genus Adaina
- Genus Crassuncus
- Genus Emmelina Tutt,
1905
- Emmelina monodactyla
- Genus Gypsochares
- Genus Hellinsia Tutt, 1905
- Hellinsia balanotes
- Hellinsia emmelinoida
- Genus Helpaphorus
- Genus Karachia
- Genus Oidaematophorus Wallengren, 1862
- Oidaematophorus beneficus
- Genus Paravinculia
- Genus Paulianilus
- Genus Picardia
- Genus Pselnophorus Wallengren, 1881
- Pselnophorus meruensis
- Genus Puerphorus
- Genus Setosipennula
- Tribe Oxyptilini
- Genus Apoxyptilus Alipanah et al., 2010
- Genus Buckleria Tutt, 1905
- Buckleria vanderwolfi
- Genus Capperia
- Genus Crombrugghia
- Genus Dejongia
- Genus Eucapperia
- Eucapperia continentalis
- Genus Geina
- Genus Intercapperia
- Genus Megalorhipida Amsel, 1935
- Megalorrhipida leucodactyla
- Genus Oxyptilus
- Genus Paracapperia
- Genus Prichotilus Rose and Pooni, 2003
- Genus Procapperia
- Genus Pseudoxyptilus Alipanah et al., 2010
- Genus Stangeia Tutt, 1905
- Stangeia xerodes
(Pterophorinae: Oxyptilini)
- Genus Stenodacma
- Genus Tomotilus
- Genus Trichoptilus
- Tribe Platyptilini
- Genus Amblyptilia H?bner, 1825
- Amblyptilia acanthadactyla
- Genus Anstenoptilia
- Genus Asiaephorus
- Genus Bigotilia
- Genus Bipunctiphorus
- Genus Buszkoiana
- Genus Cnaemidophorus Wallengren, 1862
- Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla
- Genus Crocydoscelus
- Genus Fletcherella
- Genus Gillmeria Tutt, 1905
- Gillmeria ochrodactyla
- Genus Inferuncus
- Genus Koremaguia
- Genus Lantanophaga Zimmermann, 1958
- Lantanophaga pusillidactyla
- Genus Leesi
- Genus Lioptilodes
- Genus Michaelophorus
- Genus Nippoptilia
- Genus Paraamblyptilia
- Genus Paraplatyptilia
- Genus Platyptilia H?bner, 1825Platyptilia celidotus
(Pterophorinae: Platyptilini)Platyptilia falcatalis
(Pterophorinae: Platyptilini)- Platyptilia aarviki
- Platyptilia carduidactyla ? Artichoke Plume Moth
- Platyptilia celidotus
- Platyptilia eberti
- Platyptilia falcatalis
- Platyptilia gonodactyla
- Platyptilia nussi
- Genus Platyptiliodes
- Genus Postplatyptilia
- Genus Quadriptilia
- Genus Sinpunctiptilia
- Sinpunctiptilia emissalis
- Genus Sochchora
- Genus Sphenarches
- Genus Stenoptilia H?bner, 1825
- Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla
- Stenoptilia kiitulo
- Stenoptilia pterodactyla
- Stenoptilia zophodactylus
- Genus Stenoptilodes Zimmermann, 1958
- Stenoptilodes antirrhina ? Snapdragon Plume Moth
- Genus Stockophorus
- Genus Uroloba
- Genus Vietteilus
- Genus Xyroptila
- Genus Amblyptilia H?bner, 1825
- Tribe Pterophorini
- Genus Calyciphora
- Genus Chocophorus
- Genus Cosmoclostis
- Cosmoclostis aglaodesma
- Cosmoclostis hemiadelpha
- Cosmoclostis pesseuta
- Genus Diacrotricha
- Genus Imbophorus
- Imbophorus aptalis
- Imbophorus leucophasmus
- Imbophorus pallidus
- Genus Merrifieldia
- Genus Oirata
- Genus Patagonophorus
- Genus Porrittia
- Genus Pterophorus
- Pterophorus pentadactyla ? White Plume Moth
- Genus Septuaginta
- Genus Singularia
- Genus Tabulaephorus
- Genus Wheeleria Tutt, 1905
- Wheeleria spilodactylus
- Tribe Tetraschalini
- Genus Macrotinactis
- Genus Titanoptilus
- Genus Tetraschalis
- Genus Walsinghamiella
Subfamily Deuterocopinae Gielis, 1993
- Genus Deuterocopus
- Genus Heptaloba
- Genus Hexadactilia
- Genus Leptodeuterocopus
Subfamily Macropiratinae
- Genus Agdistopis
Footnotes
References
- Baker, J. (2002): Factors affecting the establishment of a classical biological control agent, the horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus) in South Australia. (A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology, Adelaide University, Australia) PDF fulltext
- Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) (1980): Geranium Plume Moth Quarantine. PDF fulltext
- Palmer, W.A & Haseler, W.H. (1992): Foodplant Specificity and Biology of Oidaematophorus balanotes (Pterophoridae): A North American Moth Introduced into Austra lia for the Control of Baccharis halimifolia (Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 46(3), 1992: 195-202). PDF fulltext
External links
Taxonomy
The Family Pterophoridae is a member of the Superfamily Pterophoroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Pterophoridae:
- 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
- Butterflies and Moths
- Suborder: Glossata
- Infraorder: Heteroneura
- a genus of Longhorned Beetles (Cerambycidae)
- Superfamily: Pterophoroidea
- Family: Pterophoridae - Plume Moths
- Superfamily: Pterophoroidea
- Infraorder: Heteroneura
- a genus of Longhorned Beetles (Cerambycidae)
- Suborder: Glossata
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Butterflies and Moths
- Superorder: Amphiesmenoptera
- Cohort: Myoglossata
- Infraclass: Pterygota
- Winged Insects
- Subclass: Dicondylia
- Class: Insecta
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - Insects
- Superclass: Panhexapoda
- Infraphylum: Atelocerata
Heymons, 1901
- Subphylum: Mandibulata
Snodgrass, 1938
- Phylum: Arthropoda
Latreille, 1829 - Arthropods
- Superphylum: Panarthropoda
Cuvier
- Infrakingdom: Ecdysozoa
A.M.A. Aguinaldo et al., 1997 ex T. Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - ecdysozoans
- Branch: Protostomia
Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
The Family Pterophoridae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (3): Agdistinae · Platyptiliinae · Pterophorinae
- Genus (78): Adaina · Agdistis · Agdistopis · Amblyptilia · Anstenoptilia · Arcoptilia · Buckleria · Buszkoiana · Buzkoiana · Calyciphora · Capperia · Chocophorus · Cnaemidophorus · Cosmoclostis · Crombrugghia · Dejongia · Deuterocopus · Diacrotricha · Emmelina · Euleioptilus · Exelastis · Fletcherella · Fuscoptilia · Geina · Gillmeria · Gilmeria · Gypsochares · Hellinsia · Heptaloba · Hexadactilia · Imbophorus · Intercapperia · Karachia · Koremaguia · Lantanophaga · Leioptilu · Lioptilodes · Macrotinactis · Marasmarcha · Megalorhipida · Megalorrhipida · Merrifieldia · Nippoptilia · Ochyrotica · Oidaematophorus · Ovendenia · Oxyptilus · Paraamblyptilia · Paraplatyptilia · Paravinculia · Patagonophorus · Platyptilia · Porittia · Porrittia · Postplatyptilia · Procapperia · Pselnophorus · Pseudoxyroptila · Pterophorus · Puerphorus · Septuaginta · Shafferia · Sibiretta · Sphenarches · Stangeia · Stenodacma · Stenoptilia · Stenoptilodes · Stockophorus · Tabulaephorus · Tetraschalis · Titanoptilus · Tomotilus · Trichoptilus · Uroloba · Wheeleria · Xenopterophora · Xyroptila
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 1,558 species and subspecies in the Family Pterophoridae.
Genera
Adaina
Adaina is a genus of moth in the Pterophoridae family. [more]
Agdistis
Agdistis (Ancient Greek: ) was a deity of Greek, Roman and Anatolian mythology, possessing both male and female sexual organs, connected with the Phrygian worship of Attis and Cybele. Her androgyny was seen as symbolic of a wild, uncontrolled nature and, as a trait threatening to the gods, was condemned and destroyed by them. [more]
Agdistopis
Macropiratinae is a subfamily of moths of the Pterophoridae family, although it is treated as a valid family Macropiratidae by some authors. It contains one genus Agdistopis with three species. [more]
Amblyptilia
Amblyptilia is a genus of moth in the Pterophoridae family. [more]
Anstenoptilia
Anstenoptilia is a genus of moth in the Pterophoridae family. [more]
Arcoptilia
Arcoptilia is a genus of moth in the Pterophoridae family. [more]
Buckleria
Buszkoiana
Buzkoiana
Calyciphora
Capperia
Chocophorus
Cnaemidophorus
Cosmoclostis
Crombrugghia
Dejongia
Deuterocopus
Diacrotricha
Emmelina
Euleioptilus
Exelastis
Fletcherella
Fuscoptilia
Geina
Gillmeria
Gilmeria
Gypsochares
Hellinsia
Heptaloba
Hexadactilia
Imbophorus
Intercapperia
Karachia
Koremaguia
Lantanophaga
Leioptilu
Lioptilodes
Macrotinactis
Marasmarcha
Megalorhipida
Megalorrhipida
Merrifieldia
Nippoptilia
Ochyrotica
Oidaematophorus
Ovendenia
Oxyptilus
Paraamblyptilia
Paraplatyptilia
Paravinculia
Patagonophorus
Platyptilia
Porittia
Porrittia
Postplatyptilia
Procapperia
Pselnophorus
Pseudoxyroptila
Pterophorus
Puerphorus
Septuaginta
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Shafferia
Sibiretta
Sphenarches
Stangeia
Stenodacma
Stenoptilia
Stenoptilodes
Stockophorus
Tabulaephorus
Tetraschalis
Titanoptilus
Tomotilus
Trichoptilus
Uroloba
Wheeleria
Xenopterophora
Xyroptila
At least 5 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xyroptila.
More info about the Genus Xyroptila may be found here.
References
- Baker, J. (2002): Factors affecting the establishment of a classical biological control agent, the horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus) in South Australia. (A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology, Adelaide University, Australia) PDF fulltext
- Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) (1980): Geranium Plume Moth Quarantine. PDF fulltext
- Palmer, W.A & Haseler, W.H. (1992): Foodplant Specificity and Biology of Oidaematophorus balanotes (Pterophoridae): A North American Moth Introduced into Australia for the Control of Baccharis halimifolia (Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 46(3), 1992: 195-202). PDF fulltext
External links
Footnotes
- ^ MDA (1980)
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes material from Wikipedia retrieved Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
- The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
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