Acentropinae

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Acentropinae
Water lily borer (Elophila nymphaeata)

Water lily borer
( Elophila nymphaeata )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Superfamily : Common moth (Pyraloidea)
Family : Crambidae
Subfamily : Acentropinae
Scientific name
Acentropinae
Stephens , 1836

The acentropinae are a subfamily of butterflies from the family of Crambidae whose representatives exclusively in wetlands and aquatic habitats live.

features

A Jordan organ is formed on the head of the butterfly . Ocelles (point eyes) may be present or absent. In the males, the antennae are thread-like and ciliate, in the females they are rarely provided with a few eyelashes. Mandibles are missing. The maxillary palps usually consist of four segments, in the genus Acentria they are very small and consist of only three segments. The proboscis has a normal length and is rolled up spirally, only in the genus Acentria it is greatly reduced. The labial palps usually consist of three segments. The genus Acentria is an exception with its two-segment and drooping labial palps. In all other genera they are extended. The labial palps are one to three times as long as the diameter of the eye.

The veins R 3 and R 4 are petiolate on the forewings. The R 5 wire arises directly from the cell . The wire R 2 is always approximated to R 3 + 4 and in many cases cross-connected to it. However, this anastomosis is not a feature that distinguishes the Acentropinae from other subfamilies, as formulated by Hampson in 1897, since it is also found in other subfamilies of the Crambidae. There are also some exceptions within the Acentropinae. Otherwise the Acentropinae have the typical wing veins of the Crambidae. Many genera such as Cataclysta have eye-spots on the hind wings, but these are not only found in the Acentropinae. They can also be found in the genera Archischoenobius Speidel , 1984 ( Schoenobiinae ), Aureopteryx Amsel , 1954 ( Glaphyriinae ) and Talanga Moore , [1885] ( Pyraustinae ).

The wing scales are very similar to those of most Pyraloidea . In most species of the Acentropinae they are parallel- edged, slightly toothed distally , hollow and have a characteristic perforation. Deviations from this can be found, for example, in Kasania arundinalis and Acentria ephemerella . In the first-mentioned type, the distal end of the scaly stem is located in an indentation on the base of the scale. The scale is parallel-edged and strongly serrated distally. In the second type mentioned, the scale shape is very unusual. The side edges are not parallel, but end proximally in two points. The stem does not sit at the end of the scale, but is shifted to the underside. It is not visible from above because it is covered by the scale. The scale is incised distally in two or three places and the longitudinal ribs divide into fibers with protruding ends.

The males have a well-developed, agile gnathos that can be used to differentiate between Acentropinae and Pyraustinae, since the latter is absent. The gnathos is small and often fused with the tegumen at the base . The signum consists of paired sclerotized spots, the axis of which is usually parallel to the long axis of the corpus bursae .

The pupa has strong frontal bristles and is hemipneustic, i. that is, it has one or more closed pairs of tracheas. There are no stigmata on the mesothorax . The open stigmata on abdominal segments 2 to 4 are elongated in a tubular shape. They are characteristic of the subfamily and are not known from any other butterfly group. Their function is so far unknown, it is believed that they developed in connection with underwater breathing. The stigmata on segments 5 to 8 are only superficial scars to which the inner lining of the vessels of the trachea attaches. After the moths hatch, this filamentous vascular lining remains in the exuvia .

biology

The representatives of the Acentropinae live exclusively in wetlands and aquatic habitats . The abilities to live on the water surface or even under water vary depending on the species or can also be caused by ontogeny . Young caterpillars have a tracheal system that is closed off from the outside and absorbs the oxygen via the hydrophilic exocuticle . Later caterpillar stages either develop plastron breathing or take in oxygen through tracheal gills . The pupation takes place inside an air-filled silk spun yarn. Here the doll receives the oxygen it needs for life through open stigmata from the air within the web. The oxygen diffuses - due to the gradient of the partial pressure - from the surrounding water into the web. The moths can land directly on the water surface with their long legs. In this way, the females lay their eggs on aquatic host plants. To do this, the rear part of the abdomen is immersed in water.

Systematics

Anydraula glycerialis
Cataclysta camptozonale
Elophila icciusalis
Hygraula nitens
Nymphula stagnata
Parapoynx stratiotata
Strepsinoma hapilistalis

The subfamily Acentropinae almost always includes the formerly independent subfamily Nymphulinae with the status of a tribe . In Europe there are 13 species in six genera. A number of species have been introduced into Europe and colonized greenhouses with aquatic plants. A total of around 730 species in 78 genera are currently known worldwide :

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Barry Goater, Matthias Nuss, Wolfgang Speidel: Pyraloidea I (Crambidae, Acentropinae, Evergestinae, Heliothelinae, Schoenobiinae, Scopariinae) . In: P. Huemer, O. Karsholt, L. Lyneborg (eds.): Microlepidoptera of Europe . 1st edition. tape 4 . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2005, ISBN 87-88757-33-1 , pp. 33 (English).
  2. ↑ Acentropinae in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved January 6, 2013
  3. ↑ Global Information System on Pyraloidea (GlobIZ). Retrieved January 5, 2013 .

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