Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 115
Examples of the arrangement of crochets on the abdominal prolegs of lepidopterous larvae: (a) a
multiserial circle - family Hepialidae; (b) a penellipse surrounding a transverse band - family Gracillariidae;
(c) two transverse bands - family Sesiidae; (d) a uniordinal circle surrounding a penellipse of larger crochets -
subfamily Plutellinae; (e) a simple penellipse - family Gelechiidae; (f) a mesoseries - subfamily Arctiinae.
Larvae usually with several pairs of crochet-
bearing abdominal prolegs but sometimes
apodous. Pupae obtect, with rudimentary
mandibles.
Fig.
116
Head of a nepticulid moth - family
Nepticulidae.
Superfamily HEPIALOIDEA
3. Family HEPIALIDAE (swift moths)
(p. 202
et seq.)
pendages (i.e. obtect), able to wriggle to the soil
surface prior to emergence of the adult.
EXAMPLE:
Hepialus hamuli
(ghost swift moth).
A small group of primitive, medium-sized to
large moths with forewing and hindwing vena-
tion similar; forewings with a jugum; antennae
very short; females with two genital openings.
Larvae elongate, with five pairs of crochet-
bearing abdominal prolegs; crochets of different
sizes (multiordinal), arranged in a multiserial cir-
cle
(Fig. 115a).
Larvae subterranean, feeding
mainly on plant roots and pupating in earthen
cells. Pupae spinose; although without free ap-
Superfamily NEPTICULOIDEA
4. Family NEPTICULIDAE
(p. 203)
Minute to small moths with a metallic sheen and
distinctive 'eye-caps' formed by the basal
segment of each antenna
(Fig. 116);
wing vena-
