Eudonia
Encyclopedia
Eudonia is a large and widespread genus
in the grass moth family
(Crambidae), subfamily Scopariinae. There is no common name for the roughly 250 species
placed here; new species are still being described regularly. Although the genus was proposed early in the 19th century already, many of these moths were for a long time retained in Scoparia
, the type genus
of the subfamily and a close relative of Eudonia. A few small genera have been proposed for separation from Eudonia, but given the size of this group this is not particular convincing; thus, all are retained here pending a comprehensive phylogenetic review.
". The genitals are of characteristically simple shape in this genus; while they cannot usually be depended upon to differ significantly between species, they allow to distinguish this genus from similar moths. In the males, the clasper's harpe has few if any unusual features, the aedagus is usually a rather nondescript rod, and the vesica
bears a characteristic small disc with grainy surface. In females, the ductus bursae is kinked at the junction of the forward (membranous) and hind (sclerotized) parts, with a particularly heavy sclerotized triangle bearing small teeth half-hidden in the kink.
They are common across the world's continent
s except in deserts, on high mountains, and in glaciated areas. In addition, they are apparently even able to disperse over water well, as evidenced by the Polynesia
n radiations which occur mainly from Hawaiian Islands
to the Austral Islands
as well as on New Zealand
; several of these island endemics might nowadays be rare or extinct due to disappearance of their foodplants
, but overall the genus is not yet very well studied. As far as is known, the caterpillar
larva
e of most Eudonia feed on moss
es, namely of subclass
es Bryidae
and Dicranidae
; some also eat lichen
. In a few cases, other foodplants have been recorded or suspected, such as Colobanthus
pearlworts or woody asterids of genus Olearia
(daisy-bushes).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the grass moth 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...
(Crambidae), subfamily Scopariinae. There is no common name for the roughly 250 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...
placed here; new species are still being described regularly. Although the genus was proposed early in the 19th century already, many of these moths were for a long time retained in Scoparia
Scoparia
Scoparia is a grass moth genus of subfamily Scopariinae. Some authors have assigned the synonymous taxon Sineudonia to the snout moth family , where all grass moths were once also included, but this seems to be in error....
, the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of the subfamily and a close relative of Eudonia. A few small genera have been proposed for separation from Eudonia, but given the size of this group this is not particular convincing; thus, all are retained here pending a comprehensive phylogenetic review.
Description and ecology
They are usually greyish-brownish and rather inconspicuous moths, though some are more boldly patterned in blackish, pale and even yellow hues. Like their close relatives, they lack the loop formed by forewing veins 1a/1b, and their labial palps are elongated and project straightly, appearing like a pointed "beakBeak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
". The genitals are of characteristically simple shape in this genus; while they cannot usually be depended upon to differ significantly between species, they allow to distinguish this genus from similar moths. In the males, the clasper's harpe has few if any unusual features, the aedagus is usually a rather nondescript rod, and the vesica
Vesica
Vesica is Latin for "bladder", and may refer too:Anatomy* Vesica, mainly used for the urinary bladder, also used for the gall bladder and in entomology for a part of the male genitals....
bears a characteristic small disc with grainy surface. In females, the ductus bursae is kinked at the junction of the forward (membranous) and hind (sclerotized) parts, with a particularly heavy sclerotized triangle bearing small teeth half-hidden in the kink.
They are common across the world's continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
s except in deserts, on high mountains, and in glaciated areas. In addition, they are apparently even able to disperse over water well, as evidenced by the Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n radiations which occur mainly from Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
to the Austral Islands
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tubuai Islands consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai...
as well as on New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
; several of these island endemics might nowadays be rare or extinct due to disappearance of their foodplants
Coextinction
Coextinction of a species is the loss of a species as a consequence of the extinction of another. The term was originally used in the context of the extinction of parasitic insects following the loss of their specific hosts...
, but overall the genus is not yet very well studied. As far as is known, the 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...
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 of most Eudonia feed on moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es, namely of subclass
Subclass
Subclass may refer to:* Subclass , a taxonomic rank intermediate between class and superorder* Subclass , a class that is derived from another class or classes...
es Bryidae
Bryidae
Bryidae is an important subclass of Bryopsida. It is common throughout the whole world. Members have a double peristome with alternating tooth segments.-Classification:The classification of the Bryidae.Superorder: Bryanae...
and Dicranidae
Dicranidae
The Dicranidae are a widespread group of mosses in class Bryopsida, with many species of dry or disturbed areas....
; some also eat lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
. In a few cases, other foodplants have been recorded or suspected, such as Colobanthus
Colobanthus
Colobanthus is a large genus of small, cushion-like herbaceous plants, sometimes known as "pearlworts", a name they share with plants of the related genus Sagina.-Selected species:* Colobanthus affinis* Colobanthus apetalus...
pearlworts or woody asterids of genus Olearia
Olearia
Olearia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae. There are about 130 different species within the genus found mostly in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand...
(daisy-bushes).