Ithonidae
Encyclopedia
The Ithonidae or moth lacewings are a small family
of winged insects
of the insect order
Neuroptera
. This family contains a total of nine genera, seven living and two extinct. The modern moth lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution
while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is considered one of the most primitive living neuropteran families. Along with the giant lacewings
, moth lacewings may be phytophagous
.
that are similar in appearance to the related family Polystoechotidae
. Robert J. Tillyard
first described in 1922 the larvae of Ithone fusca noting the unusual grub like shape, similar to fruit-chafer
s and june beetle
s, as unique among Neuroptera species. The odd larval shape of Ithionidae larvae has been, and continues to be, a subject of interest among entomologists. Tillyard suggested the larvae to be carnivorous, preying upon Scarabaeidae
larvae, attacking with the large madibles and "sucking them dry". Further study by Faulkner in 1990 has shown the immature Ithonidae to be phytophagous
, a condition unique among neuropterans. The genus Rapisma was formerly considered distinct from the Ithonidae and placed in the monotypic family Rapismatidae. Recent studies have favored inclusion into Ithonidae, while this is not always followed, it has been supported by recent phylogenetic work.
ecozone
, and two in the Neotropical ecozone
of the western hemisphere. Of the genera in the eastern hemisphere, three are found in Australasia
and one in Indomalaya. The habitats are varied with the genera falling into two general groups, arid taxa and forest taxa. Those genera found in arid regions, Ithone, Varnia, Oliarces
, Ithonidae are regarded as the most primitive living members of Neuroptera. The clade
formed by Ithonidae and Polystoechotidae forms a sister group to the remaining families in the suborder Hemerobiiformia.
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...
of winged insects
Pterygota
Pterygota is a subclass of insects that includes the winged insects. It also includes insect orders that are secondarily wingless ....
of the insect order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Neuroptera
Neuroptera
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives. The order contains some 6,010 species...
. This family contains a total of nine genera, seven living and two extinct. The modern moth lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution
Disjunct distribution
In biology, a taxon with a disjunct distribution is one that has two or more groups that are related but widely separated from each other geographically...
while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is considered one of the most primitive living neuropteran families. Along with the giant lacewings
Polystoechotidae
The Polystoechotidae or giant lacewings are a small family of winged insects of the insect order Neuroptera. This family contains three living and seven extinct genera. The modern giant lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is...
, moth lacewings may be phytophagous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
.
Description and ecology
Ithonidae are typically medium size neuropteransNeuroptera
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives. The order contains some 6,010 species...
that are similar in appearance to the related family Polystoechotidae
Polystoechotidae
The Polystoechotidae or giant lacewings are a small family of winged insects of the insect order Neuroptera. This family contains three living and seven extinct genera. The modern giant lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is...
. Robert J. Tillyard
Robert John Tillyard
Robert John Tillyard FRS was an English–Australian entomologist and geologist. He was sometimes known as Robin....
first described in 1922 the larvae of Ithone fusca noting the unusual grub like shape, similar to fruit-chafer
Cockchafer
The cockchafer is a European beetle of the genus Melolontha, in the family Scarabaeidae....
s and june beetle
June beetle
June beetle is the common name for several scarab beetles that appear around June:In subfamily Cetoniinae:* Cotinis nitida of the southeastern United States...
s, as unique among Neuroptera species. The odd larval shape of Ithionidae larvae has been, and continues to be, a subject of interest among entomologists. Tillyard suggested the larvae to be carnivorous, preying upon Scarabaeidae
Scarabaeidae
The family Scarabaeidae as currently defined consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide. The species in this large family are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family is fairly unstable, with numerous competing theories, and new proposals appearing quite...
larvae, attacking with the large madibles and "sucking them dry". Further study by Faulkner in 1990 has shown the immature Ithonidae to be phytophagous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
, a condition unique among neuropterans. The genus Rapisma was formerly considered distinct from the Ithonidae and placed in the monotypic family Rapismatidae. Recent studies have favored inclusion into Ithonidae, while this is not always followed, it has been supported by recent phylogenetic work.
Range
Modern Ithonidae genera are distributed in both the western and eastern hemispheres with one species in the NearcticNearctic
The Nearctic is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones dividing the Earth's land surface.The Nearctic ecozone covers most of North America, including Greenland and the highlands of Mexico...
ecozone
Ecozone
An ecozone is the broadest biogeographic division of the Earth's land surface, based on distributional patterns of terrestrial organisms.Ecozones delineate large areas of the Earth's surface within which organisms have been evolving in relative isolation over long periods of time, separated from...
, and two in the Neotropical ecozone
Ecozone
An ecozone is the broadest biogeographic division of the Earth's land surface, based on distributional patterns of terrestrial organisms.Ecozones delineate large areas of the Earth's surface within which organisms have been evolving in relative isolation over long periods of time, separated from...
of the western hemisphere. Of the genera in the eastern hemisphere, three are found in Australasia
Australasia ecozone
The Australasian zone is an ecological region that is coincident, but not synonymous , with the geographic region of Australasia...
and one in Indomalaya. The habitats are varied with the genera falling into two general groups, arid taxa and forest taxa. Those genera found in arid regions, Ithone, Varnia, Oliarces
Systematics and taxonomy
Along with PolystoechotidaePolystoechotidae
The Polystoechotidae or giant lacewings are a small family of winged insects of the insect order Neuroptera. This family contains three living and seven extinct genera. The modern giant lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is...
, Ithonidae are regarded as the most primitive living members of Neuroptera. The clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
formed by Ithonidae and Polystoechotidae forms a sister group to the remaining families in the suborder Hemerobiiformia.