Larentiinae
Encyclopedia
Larentiinae moth
s contain roughly 5,800 species
and occur mostly in the temperate
regions of the world. They are generally considered a subfamily of the geometer moth
family
(Geometridae) and divided into a few large or good-sized tribe
s, 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
.
and DNA sequence
data indicate that they are a very ancient lineage of geometer moths; in fact, 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; in fact, the Lythriini were until recently placed in the Larentiinae but are apparently Sterrhinae.
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 upper side sections of the transtilla; their caterpillar
s often have the abdominal proleg
s reduced already (as is typical for the more advanced geometer moths), and the Larentiinae's tympanal organ
s have a unique and characteristic structure.
have hitherto not been definitely assigned to a tribe
. These include:
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 contain roughly 5,800 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and occur mostly in the temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
regions of the world. They are generally considered a subfamily of the geometer moth
Geometer moth
The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Geometridae) and divided into a few large or good-sized tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
s, and numerous very small or even monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
ones which might not always be valid. Well-known members are the "pug moths" of the Eupitheciini
Eupitheciini
Eupitheciini is a tribe of geometer moths under subfamily Larentiinae.-Recognized genera:* Aepylopha Turner, 1942* Antimimistis Turner, 1922* Chloroclystis Hübner, [1825]* Collix Guenée in Boisduval & Guenée, 1857...
and the "carpets", mainly of the Cidariini
Cidariini
The Cidariini are the largest tribe of geometer moths in the subfamily Larentiinae . The Cidariini include many of the species known as "carpets" or, ambiguously, "carpet moths" , and are among the few geometer moths that have been subject to fairly comprehensive cladistic study of their...
and Xanthorhoini
Xanthorhoini
Xanthorhoini is a tribe of geometer moths under subfamily Larentiinae.-Recognized genera:* Acodia Rosenstock, 1885* Austrocidaria Dugdale, 1971* Camptogramma Stephens, 1831* Catarhoe Herbulot, 1951* Chrysolarentia Butler, 1882...
.
Systematics and description
MorphologicalMorphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
and DNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
data indicate that they are a very ancient lineage of geometer moths; in fact, they might even be distinct enough to warrant elevation to full family status in the superfamily
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
Geometroidea
Geometroidea
Geometroidea is the superfamily of geometrid moths in the Lepidoptera. It includes the families Geometridae, Uraniidae, and Sematuridae...
. They share numerous plesiomorphic traits – for example at least one areola in the forewing, a hammer-shaped ansa
Ansa
Ansa or ANSA can refer to any of the following:* Ansa, Queen of the Lombards, 8th century, wife of Desiderius, king of the Lombards*Ansa , genus of moth* Ansa or in Hinduism, a solar deity and one of the Adityas....
of the tympanal organ
Tympanal organ
A tympanal organ is a hearing organ in insects, consisting of a membrane stretched across a frame backed by an air sac and associated sensory neurons...
and the lack of a gnathos – with the Sterrhinae
Sterrhinae
Sterrhinae is a large subfamily of the geometer moth family with some 2,800 described species.- Systematics :Sterrhinae is in fact a junior synonym of Idaeidae...
which are either somewhat less distant from other geometer moths or are part of the same distinct lineage; in fact, the Lythriini were until recently placed in the Larentiinae but are apparently Sterrhinae.
But the Larentiinae characteristically tend to have much longer foreleg tarsi
Arthropod leg
The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. Many of the terms used for arthropod leg segments are of Latin origin, and may be confused with terms for bones: coxa , trochanter , femur, tibia, tarsus, ischium, metatarsus, carpus, dactylus ,...
and hindleg tibiae than their relatives, and also have hairy or toothed extensions on the upper side sections of the transtilla; their caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s often have the abdominal proleg
Proleg
A Proleg is the small fleshy, stub structure found on the ventral surface of the abdomen of most larval forms of insects of the order Lepidoptera, though they can also be found on other larval insects such as sawflies and a few types of flies....
s reduced already (as is typical for the more advanced geometer moths), and the Larentiinae's tympanal organ
Tympanal organ
A tympanal organ is a hearing organ in insects, consisting of a membrane stretched across a frame backed by an air sac and associated sensory neurons...
s have a unique and characteristic structure.
Genera incertae sedis
Several generaGenera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
have hitherto not been definitely assigned to a tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
. These include: