MOTHS OF JAMAICA
SPECIES LISTS BY FAMILY
Notodontidae
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GENERAL FAMILY DESCRIPTION
Even though the family contains only some
3,200 medium-sized
species worldwide, by far the largest number of these are found in the New World
Tropics. Notodontids - like Noctuids - are generally sombre grey or brown
in appearance with long, tapered wings. However, the abdomens of Notodontids
tend to be longer in proportion to wing size than in Noctuids.
Many Notodontids continue the forewing pattern onto the front edge of the
hindwing, which is not covered by the forewing at rest. Notodontids are
technically separated as a 'natural' grouping of truly related species
by their possession of serrated edges on the tips of the tibial spurs,
among other features.
SUBFAMILIES
There has been no modern review
of the species of this group, except in part, since the work of Draudt
in Seitz (1925), and Gaede (1934), although Miller (1991) analyses
the overall generic and higher classification of the group.
Several 'subfamilies' (such as the Doinae and
Dioptinae - neither of which is present in Jamaica) are elevated to families in their own right
by some authors and other subfamilies have historically
been moved into and
out of completely different families such as the Arctiidae. I lump
all of the Notodontid 'subfamilies'
together
for the present. The
Notodontidae are one of the least well-known macromoth families of the neotropics
and I am grateful to Dr. Paul Thiacourt of Paris, the world's foremost
living expert on this family in the new world, for his comments on many
of my specimens (the many remaining errors are mine and not his!)
JAMAICAN SPECIES
I have catalogued ten species of this subfamily from Jamaica so far, as listed below.
Please click on any underlined species names to go to a colour
illustration of the adult, where available
(and sometimes its genitalia) and brief information on
the species.
The genus Boriza
Boriza eglossa Kaye 1925
The genus Crinodes
Crinodes besckei Hubner 1824
The genus Disphragis
Disphragis cervina Moeschler 1886
Disphragis jamaicensis Schaus 1901
The genus Hippia
Hippia insularis Grote 1867
The genus Malocampa
Malocampa punctata Cramer 1782
The genus Nystalea
Nystalea collaris
Nystalea ebalea Cramer 1779
Nystalea indiana Grote 1884
The genus Rifargia
Rifargia distinguenda Walker 1856
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