The Saturniidae are among the largest and showiest moths in North America. This comprehensive work covers the life history and taxonomy of a hundred species and subspecies of these Lepidoptera. The beautiful adults and larvae of all species are illustrated in thirty color plates, which are supported by line drawings of cocoons, distribution maps, and photographs of behavior. More than a natural history guide, this book includes chapters in population biology, life history strategies, disease and parasitoids, and the importance of silk moths of human culture. The systematic account emphasizes genetic differences among populations and the process of speciation and presents new information on experimental hybridization and life histories. For the student, researcher, and naturalist, here is practical information on collecting, rearing, and conducting original research. The entire text is referenced to an extensive bibliography.
The noctuidae of the world, a family with numerous important agricultural pests, comprises about a third of the entire order Lepidoptera. This new three-volume set is the first complete catalog for the world. About 38,000 named species (including known synonyms) are listed alphabetically under each genus name in over 1,000 pages of text. Genera area also listed alphabetically, but subfamily affiliations are noted for each of the valid names to enable users to segregate genera by subfamily. Valid names are noted in boldface. Synonyms are listed for each genus and species; the species synonyms are also listed alphabetically among the valid names, thus enabling users to make two kinds of searches in the text as well as in the index. The catalog provides citation data on all described names (other than infraspecific names), with references cited in the compete bibliography at the end. Reference is also made to more important papers on the biology, larvae, host plants, and illustrations for each species, again with full titles noted in the bibliography. The main host plants for each species, where known, are listed under each. Details of holotypes, where known, are also noted. The bibliography has entries for approximately 4,400 papers.
This 11th volume in the World Catalogue of Insects comprises 4415 species in 532 genera of Notodontidae & Oenosandridae (Lepidoptera), which is about 1000 species more than ever before provided in any catalogue. Altogether 7434 names of taxonomic entities are included. 27 cases of new synonymies on genus level and 72 new synonymies on species group level are reported and 15 statuses of taxa are changed. One Neotype and 24 Lectotypes are designated to stabilize the nomenclature. In line with recognized homonymies 4 replacement names are proposed. The catalogue also includes 107 new combinations of Notodontidae. The bibliographical source of almost all of the listed taxa (including the infrasubspecific entities) has been checked by the author personally. The exact type-locality of a taxon as well as the depository of the type is given, where traceable.