MOTHS OF THE GRENADINES
SPECIES LISTS BY FAMILY
Arctiidae
GENERAL FAMILY DESCRIPTION
The Arctiidae ('Tiger Moths') are a large family of some 11,000 species
worldwide, of which about 6,000 occur in the neotropics (Scoble 1992).
They are characterised by their generally bright 'warning coloration'
(usually orange, yellow or red) and bodily toxicity which protects them
from natural predators and makes them popular with human collectors.
The family is conventionally divided into four subfamilies: the Arctiinae;
the Ctenuchinae; the Pericopinae and the Lithosiinae - which some authorities
elevate into families in their own right. Of these four subfamilies only the
Arctiinae and Ctenuchinae are represented in the Grenadines. Several Arctiid species
(such as Utetheisa ornatrix) are day-flying and are often mistaken by
the layman as butterflies.
The New World Arctiinae are a
colourful group and are hence popular with collectors and relatively well
documented. Watson & Goodger's work (1986) catalogues all of the known species
of Arctiinae and Pericopinae from the Neotropics, and illustrations
of large numbers of species may be found in Hampson (1900, 1901, 1920) and
Seitz (1925).
SUBFAMILIES present in the Grenadines: (click on link to go to species list for that subfamily)
ARCTIINAE
CTENUCHINAE
| BACK TO LIST OF FAMILIES |