Spilomelinae
| Spilomelinae | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mother of Pearl, Pleuroptya ruralis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Suborder: | Ditrysia |
| Superfamily: | Pyraloidea |
| Family: | Crambidae |
| Subfamily: |
Spilomelinae Guenée, 1854 |
| Genera | |
|
See text |
|
See text
Spilomelinae is a very large subfamily of the lepidopteran family Crambidae, the crambid snout moths. They were formerly included in the Pyraustinae as tribe Spilomelini; furthermore taxonomists' opinions differ as to the correct placement of the Crambidae, some authorities treating them as a subfamily (Crambinae) of the family Pyralidae. If this is done, Spilomelinae is usually treated as a separate subfamily within Pyralidae. The Spilomelinae are believed to be polyphyletic. Many genera are only tentatively placed here even at this point.
With nearly 3,800 described species worldwide, this is the most speciose group among pyraloids. The moths are characterized by the absence of chaetosemata, a bilobed praecinctorium, projecting fornix tympani, pointed spinula, and the female genitalia have no rhomboidal signum on the corpus bursae as found in Pyraustinae. A gnathos or pseudognathos can be present or absent and is therefore of no diagnostic value.
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