Spilomelinae
| Spilomelinae | |
|---|---|
| Mother of pearl, Patania ruralis | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Crambidae |
| Subfamily: | Spilomelinae Guenée, 1854[1] |
| Genera | |
|
see text | |
Spilomelinae is a very species-rich subfamily of the lepidopteran family Crambidae, the crambid snout moths. With 4,135 described species in 344 genera worldwide, it is the most speciose group among pyraloids.[1]
Description
[edit ]Imagines – the adult life stage – vary considerably in size: the forewing span ranges from 11.5 mm e.g. in Metasia to 50 mm in the robust-bodied Eporidia .[2] [3] In resting position, the moths exhibit a characteristic triangular shape, with the wings usually folded over the abdomen, the forewings covering the hindwings. Some Spilomelinae diverge from this common resting pattern, like Maruca with widely spread wings, and Atomopteryx and Lineodes with narrow wings folded along the body. All Spilomelinae moths have well-developed compound eyes, antennae and mouthparts, although in the genera Niphopyralis and Siga the proboscis is lost.[4]
Synapomorphic characters of the subfamily comprise minute or obsolete maxillary palpi, ventrally projecting fornix tympani, and the female genitalia's ductus bursae with a weak sclerotization or a granulose texture.[4] The moths are furthermore characterized by an often bilobed praecinctorium, pointed spinula, and the absence of chaetosemata and of a retinacular hook. A gnathos or pseudognathos can be present or absent and is therefore of little diagnostic value, except for several genera of Agroterini, where the gnathos has a well-developed medial process.[4] [5]
Food plants
[edit ]Food plant use is diverse within Spilomelinae, ranging from ferns [6] over gymnosperms [7] to a wide spectrum of angiosperms. The larvae of Niphopyralis live in nests of weaver ants, where they feed on ant larvae.[8] [9] Steniini caterpillars are detritivores.[4]
Many Spilomelinae tribes have a narrow food spectrum, with the larvae feeding on plants of only one or a few plant families, e.g. Lineodini on Solanaceae, Hydririni primarily on Sapindaceae and Convolvulaceae, and Trichaeini on Rubiaceae.[4]
Economic impact
[edit ]A number of Spilomelinae are considered "pest species", with their larvae feeding on a variety of economically important crops. Notable representatives are the genera of Leucinodes and Neoleucinodes with larvae feeding on Solanaceae,[10] Cnaphalocrocis and Marasmia damaging Poaceae like Oryza , Sorghum and Zea ,[11] the legume pod borers of the genus Maruca on Fabaceae and Amaranthaceae,[12] and Spoladea , who feeds on a variety of different agriculturally important plant families.[13]
The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis , whose larvae feed on box trees, a prominent ornamental plant in many parks and gardens, has been accidentally introduced to Europe in the mid-2000s and to North America in 2018.[14] [15]
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