Whalleyana

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Whalleyana
Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Subordination : Glossata
Superfamily : Whalleyanoidea
Family : Whalleyanidae
Genre : Whalleyana
Scientific name of the  superfamily
Whalleyanoidea
Kristensen, 2003
Scientific name of the  family
Whalleyanidae
Minet , 1991
Scientific name of the  genus
Whalleyana
Viette , 1977

Whalleyana is the only genus of the butterfly family Whalleyanidae , which in turn is the only family of the superfamily Whalleyanoidea . The group consisting of only two species is common in Madagascar . The pre-imaginal stages are unknown.

features

The moths have a certain resemblance to bear moths (Arctiinae). They have strongly receded point eyes ( Ocelli ), but large, adjacent Jordanian organs (Chaetosemata), with short scales and long sets on the posterior vertex . The antennae are scaled dorsally and ventrally in both sexes . The flagellum is curved in the distal area as in the Callidulidae family . The short maxillary palps are tripartite, the labial palps have a long, curved first, a short second and a thick, fairly short third segment. The proboscis is bare. An epiphysis is present. The front legs have none, the middle two, and the back legs two or four spurs. The pulvillus is doubly lobed. In the female, the frenulum has several bristles. All Rs branches on the forewings are petiolate, Rs3 and Rs4 are postapical. The lower branch of the anal arc is very slender. The wing vein CuP is missing on both wing pairs. The Sc + R wire approaches Rs on the other side of the cell, but can be seen. The wire 3A is slim, but also recognizable.

The missing spinaerea and the missing CuP vein on the hind wings would suggest that the group should be placed within the window spots (Thyrididae), but these simple, regressive features are homoplasmic within the order of butterflies and accordingly have little weight in the taxonomic classification. In addition, the presence of the well-developed Jordanian organs with intermingling of scales, as in some Macrolepidoptera, rules out a classification in the family of window spots. The small posterolateral lobes of the first tergum also differ greatly from the large lobes of the window spots, which are among their most striking autapomorphies .

Systematics

Joel Minet introduced the genus Whalleyana into her own family in 1991 , as the previously recognized placement within the window spots (Thyrididae) was in doubt. Kristensen places the family in its own superfamily for reasons of formal classification. The position of the family within the Obtectomera is well founded, but the relationships within this group are unclear. A close relationship to the Thyridoidea or Pyraloidea would be possible as well as the position within the Macrolepidoptera . It only consists of the following two types:

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Niels P. Kristensen: Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies . In: Maximilian Fischer (Ed.): Handbook of Zoology . 1st edition. tape 4 - Arthropoda: Insecta , volume 35. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1998, ISBN 3-11-015704-7 , p. 239 f . (English).

literature

  • Niels P. Kristensen: Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies . In: Maximilian Fischer (Ed.): Handbook of Zoology . 1st edition. tape 4 - Arthropoda: Insecta , volume 35. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1998, ISBN 3-11-015704-7 (English).