Phycitinae

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Phycitinae
Imago of unidentified Acrobasis species (tribe Phycitini) from Tourves (Var, France)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Subfamily: Phycitinae
Zeller, 1839
Type species
Tinea spissicella
Diversity
4 tribes (and see text)
600 genera
4000 species
Synonyms
  • Anerastiinae Ragonot, 1885
  • Hypsotropinae Hampson, 1918
  • Peoriinae Hulst, 1890

The Phycitinae are a

genera considered valid and more than 4000 species[2] placed here at present, they unite up more than three-quarters of living snout moth diversity. Together with the closely related Epipaschiinae
, they are apparently the most advanced lineage of snout moths.

Phycitinae occur all over Earth's land masses, except in completely inhospitable areas; the majority of species has a

oceanic islands, and a few species have been intentionally or unintentionally distributed by humans beyond their native range.[3]

The subfamily was established as a systematic group by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1839, who called them "Phycideen".[4]: 175  The type genus of Phycitinae is Phycidea Zeller, 1839, with Tinea sinuella Fabricius, 1794 as type species.[5]: 219  Phycidea is nowadays considered a synonym of the genus Homoeosoma.[1][5]

Dioryctria abietella (Denis & Schiffermüller) has reproductive organs and spermatophore that are morphologically similar to those of other Lepidoptera. Many females had eggs in their bulla seminalis, but they didn't entirely obstruct sperm transportation. The spermatophore's opening end has a serrulate surface with a tiny horn. These microstructures are most likely used to keep the ductus seminalis opening aligned.[6]

Description

Imago of unidentified Phycitinae species from Aranda, Australian Capital Territory

In general, Phycitinae are smallish and slender-bodied moths, resembling

Yponomeutidae and like these are called "ermine
moths" due to their bright white forewings with tiny black spots.

Despite their diversity, the group is considered by and large

genitalia of this subfamily the ductus seminalis originates in the corpus bursae. A useful character in the field is that the forewings of many adult Phycitinae lack one or more veins, usually the seventh one.[3][7]

These moths may resemble caddisflies, but caddisfly antennae point forwards[8] while Phycitinae antennae curve backwards.

Ecology

Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella) caterpillar infesting chocolate sprinkles
Monument to the South American cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum), Dalby, Queensland, Australia

Phycitinae

alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), an originally South American plant that has spread around the Pacific Rim to the detriment of local ecosystems.[7]

Yet again others – namely the "

sessile joyweed (A. sessilis), which though a nuisance weed where introduced is not known to be strongly invasive.[7]

Systematics

Imago of Ematheudes punctella (Anerastiini)

Due to the large diversity, the

phylogeny and systematics of the Phycitinae is by no means fully resolved, though there is progress towards this goal. As noted above, some genera placed in this subfamily might actually belong elsewhere; particularly some of those that cannot be assigned firmly to one of the main Phycitinae subdivisions (incertae sedis) are interesting in this regard. Delimitation versus the Epipaschiinae – generally considered the closest living relatives of the present subfamily – may thus warrant more attention, but altogether, considering the sheer size of this group, Phycitinae have not been particularly challenging as regards their taxonomy and systematics.[7][9]

New genera of Phycitinae are still being established and others are revalidated in our time. Some genera widely recognized are

entomologist Carl Heinrich and Hans Georg Amsel of the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe, if not since longer.[7][9]

Tribes

Balanomis encyclia (Cryptoblabini
)

A large part of the subfamily is divided among four tribes of various size. Some notable genera and species are also listed:

Genera incertae sedis

Imago of Morosaphycita oculiferella, a Phycitinae with unclear affinities

Some Phycitinae

genera
and species whose affiliation as to tribe is unclear are:

Delcina was originally included in the Phycitinae, as it somewhat resembles Monoptilota; it seems impossible to assign with certainty to any one of the major lineages of snout moths however.[3][9]

References

  1. ^ a b Nuss, Matthias; Landry, Bernard; Mally, Richard; Vegliante, Francesca; Tränkner, Andreas; Bauer, Franziska; Hayden, James; Segerer, Andreas; Schouten, Rob; Li, Houhun; Trofimova, Tatiana; Solis, M. Alma; De Prins, Jurate; Speidel, Wolfgang (2003–2020). "Global Information System on Pyraloidea (GlobIZ)". www.pyraloidea.org. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  2. ^ "Phycitinae | NBN Atlas". species.nbnatlas.org. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  3. ^
    doi:10.5479/si.00810282.416
    .
  4. ^ Zeller, Philipp Christoph (1839). "Versuch einer naturgemäßen Eintheilung der Schaben". Isis von Oken (in German). 32 (3): 167–219.
  5. ^ a b Heinrich, Carl (1956). "American moths of the subfamily Phycitinae" (PDF). Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 207: i–viii, 1–581.
  6. ISSN 0013-8746
    .
  7. ^
    S2CID 54056954
    .
  8. ^ "Caddisflies (Order: Trichoptera) - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES)".
  9. ^ a b c Savela, Markku (2011). "Phycitinae". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2020-02-12.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phycitinae.
Wikispecies has information related to Phycitinae.
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