Nyctemera

Nyctemera
Nyctemera amica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Tribe: Arctiini
Subtribe: Nyctemerina
Genus: Nyctemera
Hübner, 1820
Synonyms
  • Agagles White, 1841
  • Amathes Gistl, 1848
  • Arctata Roepke, 1949
  • Coleta Roepke, 1949
  • Deilemera Hübner, 1820
  • Leptosoma Boisduval, 1832
  • Orphanos Hübner, 1825
  • Tristania Kirby, 1892
  • Trypheromera Butler, 1881
  • Zonosoma Butler, 1881

Nyctemera is a genus of tiger moths in the Erebidae family. The genus includes the species Nyctemera annulata and Nyctemera amica, which are closely related and are able to interbreed.

Description

They are medium-sized moths, the adults having a wingspan of 35–45 millimetres (1.4–1.8 in). The wings are usually dark with lighter patches, while the body is often aposematically coloured to discourage birds and other visual predators from eating them.

Palpi porrectly upturned. Antennae bipectinate in both sexes, where branches short in females. Fore wing with vein 3 from before the angle of cell, vein 5 from above it and vein 6 from upper angle. Vein 7 and 10 from short areole which is formed by the anastomosis of veins 8 and 9. Hind wings with vein 3 from before end of cell and vein 5 from angle or from above it. Veins 6 and 7 stalked or from upper angle. Vein 8 from before middle of all.[1]

Ecology

The slow-flying moths can often be seen feeding at flowers; it is common around its preferred food plants of the daisy family, for example groundsel (and other Senecio spp.), ragworts and Cineraria. The colourful hairy larvae feed openly on the plants, often stripping off all the leaves. The mature larvae will sometimes wander from the plant to pupate. The loosely spun cocoon incorporates some of the larval hairs and may also be found amongst leaves.

Taxonomy

Several species formerly placed here are now assigned to other genera. These include Utetheisa (containing Atasca, Pitasila and Raanya, erstwhile subgenera of Nyctemera), the revalidated Chiromachla, Podomachla and Xylecata, and the newly established Afronyctemera.

Species

Subgenus Arctata Roepke, 1949

Subgenus Coleta Roepke, 1949

Subgenus Deilemera Hübner, [1820], 1816

Subgenus Luctuosana de Vos, 2010

Subgenus Nyctemera s.str.

The Nyctemera (Nyctemera) clathrata species group

Subgenus Orphanos Hübner, [1825], 1816

Subgenus Tritomera de Vos & Dubatolov, 2010

Unsorted Nyctemera species

Afrotropical species transferred into Afronyctemera Dubatolov, 2006

Afrotropical species transferred into Chiromachla Strand, 1909

Afrotropical species transferred into Podomachla Strand, 1909

Afrotropical species transferred into Xylecata Swinhoe, 1904

Main articles on Nyctemera taxonomy

References

  1. ↑ Hampson G. F. (1892). "The Fauna Of British India Including Ceylon And Burma Moths Vol-ii". Digital Library of India. p. 558. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
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