Ermine moth
Encyclopedia
The family Yponomeutidae are known as the ermine moth
s, with several hundred species, most of them in the tropics. The larva
e tend to form communal webs, and some are minor pests in agriculture
, forestry
, and horticulture
. Some of the adults are very attractive. Adult moths are minor pollinator
s.
There are five or six subfamilies:
Species include:
() meaning under and () meaning food or dwelling, thus "feeding secretly, or burrow".
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s, with several hundred species, most of them in the tropics. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e tend to form communal webs, and some are minor pests in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
, and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. Some of the adults are very attractive. Adult moths are minor pollinator
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...
s.
There are five or six subfamilies:
- ArgyresthiinaeArgyresthiinaeArgyresthiinae is a subfamily of moths of the Yponomeutidae family, although it is treated as a valid family Argyresthiidae by some authors.-Genera:*Argyresthia Hübner, [1825]*Eucalliathla Clarke, 1967*Paraargyresthia Moriuti, 1969...
- AttevinaeAttevinaeAttevinae is a subfamily of moths of the Yponomeutidae family, containing only one genus, Atteva. The group has a pantropical distribution but at least one species has a range that extends into the temperate zone...
- PraydinaePraydinaePraydinae is a subfamily of moths of the Yponomeutidae family.-Genera:*Atemelia Herrich-Schäffer, 1853*Prays Hübner, [1825]*Distagmos Herrich-Schäffer, 1853-External links:**...
- SaridoscelinaeSaridoscelinaeSaridoscelinae is a subfamily of moths of the Yponomeutidae family.-Genera:*Saridoscelis Meyrick, 1894*?Eucalantica Busck, 1904-External links:*...
- Scythropiinae (sometimes in Yponomeutinae)
- YponomeutinaeYponomeutinaeYponomeutinae is a subfamily of "micromoths" in the lepidopteran in the family Yponomeutidae . As their scientific name implies, this is the subfamily containing the type genus of the ermine moths, Yponomeuta....
Species include:
- Ailanthus webwormAilanthus webwormThe Ailanthus webworm, Atteva aurea, is an ermine moth now found commonly in the United States. It was formerly known under the scientific name Atteva punctella ....
, Atteva aurea - Spindle ErmineYponomeuta cagnagellaThe Spindle Ermine is a lepidoptera from the family Yponomeutidae, the Ermine moths. The wingspan of the moth ranges from 19 to 26 millimeter....
, Yponomeuta cagnagellus. - Bird-cherry ErmineBird-cherry ErmineThe Bird-cherry Ermine is a day active lepidoptera from the family Yponomeutidae, the Ermine moths. The wingspan of the moth ranges from 16 to 25 millimetre.The host plant of the Bird-cherry Ermine is the Bird Cherry...
, Yponomeuta evonymellus. - Orchard ErmineYponomeuta padellaThe Orchard Ermine is a lepidoptera from the family Yponomeutidae, the Ermine moths. The wingspan ranges from 19 to 22 mm.It is also known as the Cherry Ermine.The flight time ranges from July to August...
, Yponomeuta padellus. - Yponomeuta plumbellaYponomeuta plumbellaYponomeuta plumbella is a lepidoptera from the family Yponomeutidae, the Ermine moths. The wingspan of the moth ranges from 16 to 20 millimeter....
. - Apple ErmineYponomeuta malinellusThe Apple Ermine is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae. It is found in Europe.The wingspan is 16-20 mm. The moth flies from June to October.The larvae feed on apple species.-Notes:...
Yponomeuta malinellus
Etymology
The word Yponomeutidae comes from the Ancient GreekAncient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
() meaning under and () meaning food or dwelling, thus "feeding secretly, or burrow".
External links
- An invasion of caterpillars has city covered in webs, 25 May 2009, Dutch Daily News.
- Alien invasions, horror stories, or just the Ermine moth?, 17 June 2010, Natural History Museum.
- Caterpillars infesting trees in Lewes, 13 May 2011, Sussex Express.
- Ermine moth larvae infest Bradford park, 19 May 2011, BBC News Online.
- Web of intrigue on Jesus Green trees, 19 May 2011, Cambridge Evening News.