Larentiinae is a subfamily of moths containing roughly 5,800 species[2] that occur mostly in the temperate regions of the world. They are generally considered a subfamily of the geometer moth family (Geometridae) and are divided into a few large or good-sized tribes, and numerous very small or even monotypic ones which might not always be valid. Well-known members are the "pug moths" of the Eupitheciini and the "carpets", mainly of the Cidariini and Xanthorhoini. The subfamily was described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1845.
| Larentiinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Waved carpet (Hydrelia sylvata: Asthenini) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Subfamily: | Larentiinae Duponchel, 1845 |
| Tribes | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Systematics and description
editMorphological and DNA sequence data indicate that they are a very ancient lineage of geometer moths; they might even be distinct enough to warrant elevation to full family status in the superfamily Geometroidea. They share numerous plesiomorphic traits – for example at least one areola in the forewing, a hammer-shaped ansa of the tympanal organ and the lack of a gnathos – with the Sterrhinae which are either somewhat less distant from other geometer moths or are part of the same distinct lineage; the Lythriini were until recently placed in the Larentiinae but are apparently Sterrhinae.[3]
But the Larentiinae characteristically tend to have much longer foreleg tarsi and hindleg tibiae than their relatives, and also have hairy or toothed extensions on the upperside sections of the transtilla; their caterpillars often have the abdominal prolegs reduced already (as is typical for the more advanced geometer moths), and the Larentiinae's tympanal organs have a unique and characteristic structure.[3]
Selected genera and species
edit- Phibalapteryx
- Phibalapteryx virgata – oblique striped
- Chloroclystis
- Eupithecia – typical pugs
- Gymnoscelis
- Microdes
- Lobophora
- Lobophora halterata – seraphim
- Pterapherapteryx
Genera incertae sedis
editSeveral genera have hitherto not been definitely assigned to a tribe.[4] These include:
- Anemplocia
- Archirhoe
- Arctesthes
- Arrayanaria
- Carptima (Hydriomenini?)
- Celonoptera (Trichopterygini?)
- Ceratodalia
- Coryphista
- Cyclica (Hydriomenini?)
- Daniela
- Dyspteris
- Epiphryne
- Ersephila (Hydriomenini?)
- Eurhinosea
- Eutrepsia (Hydriomenini?)
- Grossbeckia (Hydriomenini?)
- Gypsochroa
- Hagnagora
- Hammaptera
- Hospitalia (Rheumapterini?)
- Hymenodria (Hydriomenini?)
- Monostoechia D. S. Fletcher, 1978
- Obila
- Ochodontia
- Phoenissa
- Piercia
- Psaliodes
- Pseudomennis
- Pterocypha
- Scelidacantha
Footnotes
editReferences
edit- Forum Herbulot (2008). "Family group names in Geometridae". Retrieved 22 July 2008.
- Õunap, E.; Viidalepp, J. & Saarma, U. (2008). "Systematic position of Lythriini revised: transferred from Larentiinae to Sterrhinae (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)". Zoologica Scripta. 37 (4): 405–413. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00327.x
- Savela, Markku. "Larentiinae". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- Young, Catherine J. (2008). "Characterisation of the Australian Nacophorini using adult morphology, and phylogeny of the Geometridae based on morphological characters". Zootaxa. 1736: 1–141.
External links
edit