Hawkmoths are large charismatic insects with highly variable and colourful larvae. Some species are specialised in their habitat preferences, but others are widespread and often encountered in gardens. However, little is known about most species, and associating the adults with their larvae has previously been difficult or impossible. Hawkmoths of Australia allows identification of all of the Australian hawkmoths for the first time and treats species found on mainland Australia, Tasmania and all offshore islands within Australian limits. It presents previously undescribed life histories of nearly all species and provides a comprehensive account of hawkmoth biology, including new parasitoids and their hawkmoth hosts. Detailed drawings and photographs show the external and internal morphology of adults and immatures, and eggs, larval instars and pupa. Keys are provided for last instar larvae and pupae of the 71 species that the authors have reared. The book is concluded by a glossary, appendices to parasitoids and larval foodplants, an extensive reference list with bibliographical notes and a comprehensive index. The wealth of new information in this book makes it an essential reference for anyone interested in these moths. Hawkmoths of Australia is Volume 13 of the Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Series.
Conservation interest in moths, by far the predominant components of Lepidoptera, lags far behind that for butterflies, for which conservation practice provides many well-established lessons for extension to their near relatives. The needs of moths are at least as great, but their greater richness and variety, and far poorer documentation of diversity and biology over much of the world contribute to this lack of attention. Australia’s rich moth fauna, largely endemic and of global interest, illustrates many of the problems of developing wider interest and support for moth conservation. Numerous species (perhaps half the total fauna) are undescribed, and many are ecological specialists in restricted and vulnerable environments over small parts of the continent. Establishing their conservation status and needs whilst accepting that foundation knowledge is highly incomplete and much species-focused conservation is impracticable provides complex problems in setting priorities, based largely on wider diversity and effective advocacy. Most Australian vegetation systems, from grassland to forest and from sea-level to alpine zones, have been eroded in extent and quality since European settlement, resulting in massive habitat changes for native insects and to leave fragmented (and commonly degraded) remnants in which moths and others may persist. Recent surveys continue to increase recorded moth richness, reveal local faunal peculiarities, and indicate how assemblage changes may mirror wider environmental changes. This book is an overview of advances in documenting and interpreting moth diversity and ecology, to show how information from better-studied moth faunas can help in planning conservation of Australia’s moths through measures such as understanding the moths themselves by increased surveys and study, the factors influencing their diversity and wellbeing, and how such threats may be countered through increased coordinated conservation interest, commitment and management.
The Hepialidae (Ghost Moths) are a family of often spectacular micro-moths. The Australian region is one of the hot spots for hepialid diversity and the fauna is divided into three groups: primitive Hepialidae with small, often overlooked species; oxycanine Hepialidae, containing the large and poorly known genus Oxycanus and its allies; and finally the hepialine Hepialidae, which span from stunning, green Splendid Ghost Moths in the genus Aenetus, to the enormous moths in the genera Zelotypia and Abantiades (which include some of the most impressive insects in the world), to smaller, drab pest species in the genus Oncopera. Splendid Ghost Moths and Their Allies is the first work to provide comprehensive information about the taxonomy, biology, diversity and morphology of all 70 Australian hepialine Hepialidae species, including the descriptions of 15 species and one genus new to science. Each species is illustrated with colour photographs of males and females and drawings of the genitalia, and the book also contains identification keys to genera and species. Distribution maps and detailed information on where each species is found are included, as well as a species richness map for the group in Australia. This book is an invaluable reference for moth enthusiasts, professional entomologists and nature conservationists alike.
The Families of Malesian Moths and Butterflies provides a compendium of detailed information on the rich diversity of moths and butterflies of Malesia. It includes not only a key to the families (and some subfamilies) and field hints for the identification of larval stages, but also deals with their biology, biogeography, phylogeny and classification, and provides guidance for their collection and study. Familie that are reported or suspected to occur in Malesia are described in some depth, with a reference section intended to include as comprehensive a list as possible of the key works to the fauna.
"Abstract: An annotated catalogue of world species of Elachistinae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae) is presented. The classification follows recent phylogenetic studies. Genera and the species within each genus are listed in alphabetical order. All family, genus and species-group names of Elachistinae published before 28 August 2018 are treated. Sixty-six genus-group names are listed, 60 of which are nomenclaturally available. In the classification followed in this catalogue the species are placed in 10 genera. There are 1016 nomenclaturally available and 106 unavailable species-group names. Of these, 805 names are currently considered to represent valid species. For each species the following data are given: the reference to the original publication and the page; type locality; deposition of the name-bearing types; in the genus Elachista, the taxonomic rank with the subgenus and the informal species group when applicable; distribution; larval host plants; references to essential illustrations, and remarks, when needed. Synonyms are listed under valid names; distribution with geographic area and country records, for Australia, Canada and U.S.A. territories, provinces and states are given; Russia is divided into subregions. Larval host plant records are listed with notes regarding uncertain records. When possible, original references that are considered trustworthy in later literature are given, as well as relevant literature references for illustrations for each species. Synonymies, incorrect subsequent spellings and misspellings are listed under each species with full reference. Alphabetical lists are given for subfamily and infra-generic groupings of species of the genus Elachista, to summarize the placement of each species in its subgenus and species group within the subgenera. 110 valid and one unavailable species-group names originally described to genera currently considered elachistines, but later removed, are listed. When known, their current identity is given. The following taxonomic changes are made: Elachista amseli (Parenti, 1981), a secondary junior homonym of E. amseli Rebel, 1933, is replaced with E. parentii nom. nov.; Hemiprosopa asiatica Sinev, 1998 = Elachista asiatica (Sinev, 1998) stat. nov., comb. nov.; E. bipunctella (Sinev & Sruoga, 1995), a junior secondary homonym of E. bipunctella Treitschke, 1833, is replaced as E. ochropunctosa Kaila, nom. nov.; Elachista cerusella f. juncta Dufrane, 1957 is raised as species-rank name Elachista juncta Dufrane, 1957 stat. nov., a synonym of E. maculicerusella Bruand; Svenssonia corsicana Tautel & Nel, 2010 is transferred to Elachista (Aphelosetia), comb. n.; E. cupreella Blanchard, 1852 is transferred to Perittia, comb. nov.; E. flammeaepennella Costa, 1836 is raised as valid species, stat. rev.; Illantis Meyrick, 1921 is considered a junior subjective synonym of Elachista, syn. nov.; I. picroleuca Meyrick, 1921 is transferred to Elachista, comb. nov.; E. kosteri Traugott-Olsen, 1995 = E. differens Parenti, 1978, syn. nov.; E. oritropha Bradley, 1965 = E. iriphaea (Meyrick, 1932), syn. nov.; Paraperittia Rebel, 1916 = Phaulernis Meyrick, 1895 (Epermeniidae) syn. nov.; P. uniformella Rebel, 1916 = Phaulernis dentella (Zeller, 1839), syn. nov.; and E. zernyi Hartig, 1941 = E. stelviella Amsel, 1932, syn. nov. A lectotype is designated for Paraperittia uniformella Rebel. Elachista macquartella Duponchel, 1840 is considered a nomen oblitum, stat. nov. Keywords: Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Elachistidae"--Page 3.
The introductory chapters of this book give a detailed review of the phylogeny, morphology, classification and biology of Tineidae on a worldwide scale. Detailed morphological treatment of each genus is complemented by illustrations of wing patterns, head structure and head vestiture, venation, and male and female genitalia of representative species.
Brings together exciting accounts of life history strategies of a range of species, as well as background information on general butterfly behaviour, taxonomy and evolutionary aspects.
Hawkmoths are large charismatic insects with highly variable and colourful larvae. Some species are specialised in their habitat preferences, but others are widespread and often encountered in gardens. However, little is known about most species, and associating the adults with their larvae has previously been difficult or impossible. Hawkmoths of Australia allows identification of all of the Australian hawkmoths for the first time and treats species found on mainland Australia, Tasmania and all offshore islands within Australian limits. It presents previously undescribed life histories of nearly all species and provides a comprehensive account of hawkmoth biology, including new parasitoids and their hawkmoth hosts. Detailed drawings and photographs show the external and internal morphology of adults and immatures, and eggs, larval instars and pupa. Keys are provided for last instar larvae and pupae of the 71 species that the authors have reared. The book is concluded by a glossary, appendices to parasitoids and larval foodplants, an extensive reference list with bibliographical notes and a comprehensive index. The wealth of new information in this book makes it an essential reference for anyone interested in these moths. Hawkmoths of Australia is Volume 13 of the Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Series.