Epermeniidae

Family of moths

Epermeniidae

Epermenia illigerella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Arthropoda
Class:  | Insecta
Order:  | Lepidoptera
Infraorder:  | Heteroneura
Clade:  | Eulepidoptera
Clade:  | Ditrysia
Clade:  | Apoditrysia
Superfamily:  | Epermenioidea
Minet, 1983
Family:  | Epermeniidae
Spuler, 1910
Diversity
About 83 species

Epermeniidae or the fringe-tufted moths is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order with about 14 genera. Previously they have been divided in two subfamilies Epermeniinae and Ochromolopinae (e.g. Common, 1990: 321) but this is no longer maintained since the last group is probably hierarchically nested within the first (Dugdale et al., 1999). They are presently placed in their own superfamily but have previously been placed among the Yponomeutoidea or Copromorphoidea with which they share some features. Their systematic placement among the apoditrysian group "Obtectomera" (having pupal segments I-IV immobile) is however uncertain. They show some morphological similarities to the "plume moths" (Alucitoidea and Pterophoroidea), for example the wing fringe has similar groups of scales (Dugdale et al., 1999). There are also some similarities to Schreckensteinioidea, for example spiny legs and at least in some species an open-network cocoon. The genus Thambotricha from New Zealand may be the sister group of all other extant members. The most important genera are Epermenia, Ochromolopis and Gnathifera. The group has been extensively revised and catalogued by Dr Reinhard Gaedike (e.g. Gaedike, 1977, 1979).

## Contents

* 1 Identification
* 2 Distribution
* 3 Behaviour
* 4 Biology
* 5 Host plants
* 6 Systematics
* 7 References
* 8 Sources
* 9 External links

## Identification[edit]

Epermeniidae are small narrow-winged moths, having a span of 7–20 mm, with conspicuous whorls of bristles on their legs, lacking spines on the abdomen unlike some similar moths. The smoothly scaled head bears no ocelli or "chaetosemata". They are most easily confused with Stathmopodinae (Oecophoridae), which unlike epermeniids have the tarsi of the forelegs and midlegs without the whorls of spines, and whose proboscis is scaled at the base.[1] The projecting scale tufts on the inner margin of the hindwing is the easiest field character (Common, 1990).

## Distribution[edit]

Epermeniidae occur worldwide in both temperate and tropical regions and especially in montane areas,[2] but are sparsely known from the Afrotropics. Gnathifera occurs from Australia to New Caledonia; Epermenia ranges from the Palaearctic to Indo-Australia and the Pacific islands.[3]

## Behaviour[edit]

Epermeniidae are nocturnal as adults and well-camouflaged. They rest parallel to the surface with their wings held over their back in a tent-like manner (Robinson et al., 1994).

## Biology[edit]

The caterpillars feed inside almost any plant parts (fruits, seeds, galls, leaves or flowers), sometimes in a mine or sometimes exposed or under silk on the leaf surface; unlike some Lepidoptera the pupa is not extruded from the cocoon,[4] and may be found in its fine open-network cocoon on the plant or amongst debris on the ground.[5]

## Host plants[edit]

Many species in Europe feed on umbels of Apiaceae, and Epermenia chaerophyllella is a pest of cultivated species.[6] Other species feed on the parasitic plant families Santalaceae (e.g. the Australian quandong moth) and Loranthaceae, or on Pinaceae, Pittosporaceae and Leguminosae.[7]

## Systematics[edit]

* Africepermenia Gaedike, 2004
* Agiton Turner, 1926
* Epermenia Hübner, 1825
* =Acanthedra Meyrick, 1917
* =Calotripis Hübner, 1825
* =Chauliodus Treitschke, 1833
* =Epermeniola Gaedike, 1968
* =Lophonotus Stephens, 1829
* =Tichotripis Hübner, 1825
* =Epimarptis Meyrick, 1914
* =Temeluchella T. B. Fletcher, 1940
* =Temelucha Meyrick, 1909
* =Cataplectica Walsingham, 1894
* =Heydenia Hofmann, 1868
* Gnathifera Gaedike, 1978
* Inuncus Gaedike, 2013
* Lasiostega Meyrick, 1932
* Mesepermenia Gaedike, 2004
* Notodryas Meyrick, 1897
* Ochromolopis Hübner, 1825
* Parochromolopis Gaedike, 1977
* Paraepermenia Gaedike, 1968
* Phaulernis Meyrick, 1895
* Picrodoxa Meyrick, 1923
* Sinicaepermenia Heppner, 1990
* Thambotricha Meyrick, 1922

## References[edit]

1. ^ Robinson et al., 1994
2. ^ Robinson et al., 1994
3. ^ Holloway et al., 2001
4. ^ Robinson et al., 1994
5. ^ Common, 1990
6. ^ Dugdale et al., 1999
7. ^ Search Results: Family Epermeniidae. HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved April 2, 2018.

* Common, I.F.B. (1990). Moths of Australia. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. 535 pages.
* Dugdale, J.S., Kristensen, N.P., Robinson, G.S. and Scoble, M.J. (1999) [1998]. "The smaller microlepidoptera grade superfamilies", Ch.13., pp. 217–232 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Band / Volume IV Arthropoda: Insecta Teilband / Part 35: 491 pp. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.
* Gaedike, R. (1977). "Revision der nearktischen und neotropischen Epermeniidae (Lepidoptera)". Beiträge zur Entomologia, 27(2): 301-312.
* Gaedike, R. (1979). "Katalog der Epermeniidae der Welt (Lepidoptera)". Beiträge zur Entomologia, 29: 201-209.
* Holloway, J.D., Kibby, G and Peggie, D. (1997). The families of Malesian moths and butterflies. Fauna Malesia Handbooks. 455 pp. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden.
* Robinson, G.S., Tuck, K.R., Shaffer, M. and Cook, K. (1994). The smaller moths of South-East Asia. Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur.

## Sources[edit]

* Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders, edited by Christopher O'Toole, ISBN 1-55297-612-2, 2002

## External links[edit]

* Tufts at UKMoths
* Tree of Life
* Images at British Leafminers
* Epermeniidae at UKMoths
* Epermeniidae at Insects of Britain and Ireland: the families of Lepidoptera
* Finnish species at Microlepidoptera of Finland - an Overview
* Savela, Markku. "Epermeniidae". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved April 2, 2018.

Wikispecies has information related to Epermeniidae.

* v
* t
* e

Arthropoda \- Insecta \- Superfamilies of Lepidoptera

Butterflies|

* Hedyloidea
* Hesperioidea
* Papilionoidea

Larger Moths|

* Bombycoidea
* Calliduloidea
* Cimelioidea
* Drepanoidea
* Geometroidea
* Immoidea
* Lasiocampoidea
* Mimallonoidea
* Noctuoidea
* Sphingoidea

Microlepidoptera|

Monotrysia

Andesianoidea
Adeloidea
Palaephatoidea
Nepticuloidea
Tischerioidea

Ditrysian micros

Acanthopteroctetoidea
Alucitoidea
Choreutoidea
Copromorphoidea
Cossoidea
Epermenioidea
Galacticoidea
Gelechioidea
Gracillarioidea
Hyblaeoidea
Pterophoroidea
Pyraloidea
Schreckensteinioidea
Sesioidea
Simaethistoidea
Thyridoidea
Tineoidea
Tortricoidea
Urodoidea
Whalleyanoidea
Yponomeutoidea
Zygaenoidea

Basal lineages

Agathiphagoidea
Eriocranioidea
Hepialoidea
Heterobathmioidea
Lophocoronoidea
Micropterigoidea
Mnesarchaeoidea
Neopseustoidea

* v
* t
* e

Extant Lepidoptera families

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Arthropoda
* Class: Insecta
* Subclass: Pterygota
* Infraclass: Neoptera
* Superorder: Endopterygota

Suborder Zeugloptera

| Micropterigoidea|

Micropterigidae (mandibulate archaic moths)

|

Suborder Aglossata

| Agathiphagoidea|

Agathiphagidae (kauri moths)

|

Suborder Heterobathmiina

| Heterobathmioidea|

Heterobathmiidae

|

Suborder Glossata

| Dacnonypha|

| Eriocranioidea|

* Eriocraniidae

|

Acanthoctesia|

| Acanthopteroctetoidea|

* Acanthopteroctetidae (archaic sun moths)

|

Lophocoronina|

| Lophocoronoidea|

Lophocoronidae

|

Neopseustina|

| Neopseustoidea|

* Aenigmatineidae
* Neopseustidae (archaic bell moths)

|

Exoporia|

| Hepialoidea|

* Anomosetidae
* Hepialidae (swift moths, ghost moths)
* Neotheoridae (Amazonian primitive ghost moths)
* Palaeosetidae (miniature ghost moths)
* Prototheoridae (African primitive ghost moths)

|

Mnesarchaeoidea|

* Mnesarchaeidae (New Zealand primitive moths)

| M

| Adeloidea|

Adelidae (fairy longhorn moths)
Cecidosidae
Heliozelidae
Incurvariidae
Prodoxidae (yucca moths)

|

Andesianoidea|

* Andesianidae (Andean endemic moths)

Nepticuloidea|

Nepticulidae (pigmy, or midget moths)
Opostegidae (white eyecap moths)

Palaephatoidea|

Palaephatidae (Gondwanaland moths)

Tischerioidea|

Tischeriidae (trumpet leaf miner moths)

| Simaethistoidea|

Simaethistidae

|

Tineoidea|

Acrolophidae (burrowing webworm moths)
Arrhenophanidae
Eriocottidae (Old World spiny-winged moths)
Psychidae (bagworm moths)
Tineidae (fungus moths)

Gracillarioidea|

Bucculatricidae (ribbed cocoon makers)
Douglasiidae (Douglas moths)
Gracillariidae
Roeslerstammiidae

Yponomeutoidea|

Acrolepiidae (false diamondback moths)
Bedelliidae
Glyphipterigidae (sedge moths)
Heliodinidae
Lyonetiidae
Plutellidae
Yponomeutidae (ermine moths)
Ypsolophidae

Gelechioidea|

Autostichidae
Batrachedridae
Blastobasidae
Coleophoridae (case-bearers, case moths)
Cosmopterigidae (cosmet moths)
Elachistidae (grass-miner moths)
Gelechiidae (twirler moths)
Lecithoceridae (long-horned moths)
Lypusidae
Metachandidae
Momphidae (mompha moths)
Oecophoridae (concealer moths)
Pterolonchidae
Scythrididae (flower moths)
Xyloryctidae (timber moths)

Galacticoidea|

Galacticidae

Zygaenoidea|

Heterogynidae
Zygaenidae (burnet, forester, or smoky moths)
Himantopteridae
Lacturidae
Somabrachyidae
Megalopygidae (flannel moths)
Aididae
Anomoeotidae
Cyclotornidae
Epipyropidae (planthopper parasite moths)
Dalceridae (slug caterpillars)
Limacodidae (slug, or cup moths)

Cossoidea|

Cossidae (carpenter millers, or goat moths)
Dudgeoneidae (dudgeon carpenter moths)

Sesioidea|

Brachodidae (little bear moths)
Castniidae (castniid moths: giant butterfly-moths, sun moths)
Sesiidae (clearwing moths)

Choreutoidea|

Choreutidae (metalmark moths)

Tortricoidea|

Tortricidae (tortrix moths)

Urodoidea|

Urodidae (false burnet moths)

Schreckensteinioidea|

Schreckensteiniidae (bristle-legged moths)

Epermenioidea|

Epermeniidae (fringe-tufted moths)

Alucitoidea|

Alucitidae (many-plumed moths)
Tineodidae (false plume moths)

Pterophoroidea|

Pterophoridae (plume moths)

Whalleyanoidea|

Whalleyanidae

Immoidea|

Immidae

Copromorphoidea|

Copromorphidae (tropical fruitworm moths)
Carposinidae (fruitworm moths)

Thyridoidea|

Thyrididae (picture-winged leaf moths)

Calliduloidea|

Callidulidae (Old World butterfly-moths)

Papilionoidea
(butterflies)|

Papilionidae (swallowtail butterflies)
Hedylidae (American moth-butterflies)
Hesperiidae (skippers)
Pieridae (whites, yellows, orangetips, sulphurs)
Riodinidae (metalmarks)
Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged butterflies: blues, coppers and relatives)
Nymphalidae (brush-footed, or four-footed butterflies)

Hyblaeoidea|

Hyblaeidae (teak moths)

Pyraloidea|

Pyralidae (snout moths)
Crambidae (grass moth)

Mimallonoidea|

Mimallonidae (sack bearer moths)

Lasiocampoidea|

Lasiocampidae (eggars, snout moths, or lappet moths)

Bombycoidea|

Anthelidae (Australian lappet moth)
Apatelodidae (American silkworm moths)
Bombycidae (silk moths)
Brahmaeidae (Brahmin moths)
Carthaeidae (Dryandra moth)
Endromidae (Kentish glory and relatives)
Eupterotidae
Phiditiidae
Saturniidae (saturniids)
Sphingidae (hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms)

Noctuoidea|

Erebidae (underwing, tiger, tussock, litter, snout, owlet moths)
Euteliidae
Noctuidae (daggers, sallows, owlet moths, quakers, cutworms, darts)
Nolidae (tuft moths)
Notodontidae (prominents, kittens)
Oenosandridae

Drepanoidea|

Drepanidae (hook-tips)
Cimeliidae (gold moths)
Doidae

Geometroidea|

Sematuridae
Pseudobistonidae
Epicopeiidae (oriental swallowtail moths)
Uraniidae
Geometridae (geometer moths)

Superfamily unassigned|

Millieriidae

Note: division Monotrysia is not a clade.

* Taxonomy of the Lepidoptera
* Lists by region

Taxon identifiers|

* Wikidata: Q1138937
* Wikispecies: Epermeniidae
* AFD: Epermeniidae
* BAMONA: Epermeniidae
* BioLib: 17239
* BOLD: 727
* BugGuide: 320631
* CoL: 9S7
* EoL: 813
* EPPO: 1EPRMF
* Fauna Europaea: 5299
* Fauna Europaea (new): 71a63e9c-f5ff-4cca-8af6-88f22f818aa1
* GBIF: 6954
* iNaturalist: 173638
* IRMNG: 109843
* ITIS: 118699
* NBN: NBNSYS0000159947
* NCBI: 754029
* NZOR: 83760456-9c8f-4d31-b4d4-13f98b78c64b
* PPE: epermeniidae

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template