Lasiocampidae
Encyclopedia
The Lasiocampidae family of moth
s are also known as eggars, snout moths or lappet moths. There are over 2000 species worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied.
Their common name 'snout moths' comes from their unique protruding mouth parts of some species that resemble a large nose. They are called 'lappet moths' due to the decorative skin flaps found on the caterpillar's prolegs. The name 'eggars' comes from the neat egg-shaped cocoons of some species. From the Greek lasio (wooly) campa (caterpillar).
Caterpillar
s of this family are large in size and are most often hairy, especially on their sides. Most have skin flaps on their prolegs and a pair of dorsal
gland
s on their abdomen
. They feed on leaves of many different trees and shrubs and often use these same plants to camouflage
their cocoons. Some species are called Tent caterpillars due to their habit of living together in nests spun of silk.
As adults, the moths in this family are large bodied with broad wings and may still have the characteristic elongated mouth parts, or have reduced mouthparts and not feed as adults. They are either diurnal
or nocturnal
. Females lay a large number of eggs which are flat in appearance and either smooth or slightly pitted. In tent caterpillars, the eggs are deposited in masses and covered with a material that hardens in air. Females are generally larger and slower than the males, but the sexes otherwise resemble each other. Moths are typically brown or grey, with hairy legs and bodies.
Subfamily Chondrosteginae (2 genera)
Subfamily Lasiocampinae
(130 genera)
Subfamily Macromphalinae (15 genera)
Subfamily Poecilocampinae (2 genera)
Genera incertae sedis
See also the list of Lasiocampid genera
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s are also known as eggars, snout moths or lappet moths. There are over 2000 species worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied.
Their common name 'snout moths' comes from their unique protruding mouth parts of some species that resemble a large nose. They are called 'lappet moths' due to the decorative skin flaps found on the caterpillar's prolegs. The name 'eggars' comes from the neat egg-shaped cocoons of some species. From the Greek lasio (wooly) campa (caterpillar).
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...
s of this family are large in size and are most often hairy, especially on their sides. Most have skin flaps on their prolegs and a pair of dorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
gland
Gland
A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release of substances such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface .- Types :...
s on their abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
. They feed on leaves of many different trees and shrubs and often use these same plants to camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
their cocoons. Some species are called Tent caterpillars due to their habit of living together in nests spun of silk.
As adults, the moths in this family are large bodied with broad wings and may still have the characteristic elongated mouth parts, or have reduced mouthparts and not feed as adults. They are either diurnal
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
or nocturnal
Nocturnal animal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal"....
. Females lay a large number of eggs which are flat in appearance and either smooth or slightly pitted. In tent caterpillars, the eggs are deposited in masses and covered with a material that hardens in air. Females are generally larger and slower than the males, but the sexes otherwise resemble each other. Moths are typically brown or grey, with hairy legs and bodies.
Taxa
Subfamily Chionopsychinae (1 genus, 2 species)Subfamily Chondrosteginae (2 genera)
Subfamily Lasiocampinae
Lasiocampinae
Lasiocampinae is a subfamily of the moth family Lasiocampidae....
(130 genera)
- Tribe Gastropachini (previously subfamily GastropachinaeGastropachinaeGastropachinae is a subfamily of the moth family Lasiocampidae....
)- American lappet moth, Phyllodesma americana
- Riley's lappet moth, Heteropacha rileyana
- Tribe Lasiocampini
- Tribe Malacosomatini
- Eastern tent caterpillarEastern tent caterpillarThe Eastern tent caterpillar is a univoltine, social species that forms communal nests in the branches of trees. It is sometimes confused with the gypsy moth, or the fall webworm and may be erroneously referred to as a bagworm which is the common name applied to unrelated caterpillars in the...
, Malacosoma americanum - Forest tent caterpillarForest tent caterpillarThe Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth is the larva of a North American moth, found throughout the United States and Canada, and most common in the eastern regions....
, Malacosoma disstrium - Western tent caterpillarMalacosoma californicumThe Western Tent Caterpillar is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is found in the Western part of the Nearctic ecozone.The wingspan is ca...
, Malacosoma californicum
- Eastern tent caterpillar
Subfamily Macromphalinae (15 genera)
- Euglyphis lankesteri
- Larch moth, Tolype laricis
- Tolype dayi
- Velleda lappet moth, or Large Tolype Tolype velleda
- Titya synoecura
Subfamily Poecilocampinae (2 genera)
Genera incertae sedis
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- TrabalaTrabalaTrabala is a genus of moth in the family Lasiocampidae....
- Nesara
See also the list of Lasiocampid genera
External links
- Fauna Europaea Lasiocampidae
- Family Lasiocampidae at Lepidoptera.pro
- Vadim Zolotuhin & Erik J. van Nieukerken Fauna Europaea experts