Gelechioidea
Chrysoesthia drurella
The Gelechioidea is an approximately 16,250 species in 1,425 genera comprehensive superfamily of butterflies (Lepidoptera ). It covers in Europe about 2500 species and subspecies. The animals are found worldwide, but are less common at higher altitudes before. The types of well-defined superfamily include a very wide range of different characteristics. The delineation of some taxa within this group is still unclear.
Features
The predominantly small to medium sized moths reach forewing lengths of about two ( Siskiwita falcata) to 35 millimeters ( Cryptophasa setiotricha ). Most species have a vane length of 5 to 15 millimeters. The group differs from the other superfamilies by an overlapping of scales on the dorsal surface of the proboscis, which ranges depending on the nature of the base to a maximum of half of the proboscis. Although these squamation also occurs in the superfamilies Pyraloidea and Choreutoidea, but the former have paired Tympanalorgane on the abdomen base, the latter have naked, small -trained one-to zweisegmentige Maxillarpalpen. These features do not occur in the Gelechioidea.
Other features that occur in most species of Gelechioidea are scaly, four-membered Maxillarpalpen who directed either downward and parallel or overlapping the base of the proboscis. The tripartite labial palps are directed upwards, her third segment is elongated and pointed. The head is smooth with scales, Jordan organs ( Chaetosemata ) are not formed. The dorsal surface of the tarsi of the hind legs are long and slender scaly. The sensors are usually filiform or ciliated and rarely combed or pinnate.
Dissemination
The distribution of the individual families within the Gelechioidea differs greatly. Thus, for example, the subfamily of Oecophorinae most butterfly species in Australia and the second highest in New Zealand, but it is missing entirely in Hawaii. The Palpenmotten ( Gelechiidae ) in North America, north of Mexico much more strongly represented than decaying wood moths ( Oecophoridae ) and grass leaf miner ( Elachistidae ), the subfamily Stenomatinae is very well represented with nearly 1100 species in the Neotropics, but come on the Antilles only nine species before.
In general, the representatives of the Gelechioidea are compared to other groups of butterflies, with the exception of a few areas of poorly researched, so it can be assumed that in the Nearctic, for example, only about 30% of Palpenmotten, 10 % of Scythridinae, 20 % of Coleophorinae, 25 % of Momphinae, 60 to 70 % of the splendor butterfly ( Cosmopterigidae ) and 30 % of the grass leaf miners are currently described. In the Neotropics probably half the Stenomatinae and less than 20 % of the Palpenmotten is described in Sub-Saharan Africa, there are for example only in South Africa, more detailed studies of Palpenmotten and Lecithoceridae. In Australia, about half the species living there the Oecophorinae is not recorded.
Way of life
Most members of the superfamily are nocturnal or crepuscular, but there are also some species that are diurnal. These are often stained very lively. Alpine and arctic common species may be active during the day, but are stained very dark usually. The larvae feed on dead or decaying plant and animal material, they are virtually every living species and even demonstrated on in living mammals. In most species, the larvae live protected in a cocoon or spun together leaves. Some species produce plant galls on roots or branches, are leaf miners, or wear a self-made shell for protection. Pupation usually takes place in the larval chamber where the doll can also be exposed. The doll does not change its position, it remains there until the hatching of the imago.
The eggs are usually flat type, they are rarely in species of Miniersackträger ( Coleophoridae ) and the Scythidinae upright type. They are stored separately as a rule, in some species they are inserted into flowers or stored in crevices. With the exception of the Palaearctic species, little is known about the preimaginal stages.
System
- Amphisbatidae
- Autostichidae
- Batrachedridae
- Chimabachidae
- Deoclonidae
- Decaying wood moths ( Oecophoridae )
- Glyphidoceridae
- Grass leaf miner ( Elachistidae )
- Lecithoceridae
- Miniersackträger or Sackträger moths ( Coleophoridae )
- Palpenmotten ( Gelechiidae )
- Peleopodidae
- Beauty butterfly ( Cosmopterigidae )
- Schistonoeidae
- Stathmopodidae
- Xyloryctidae ( with the subfamily Scythridinae )