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LEPIDOPTERA

 

Keys to Adults of Entomophagous Lepidoptera Families

 

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Of the 160+ lepidopterous families, about 12 have species exhibiting entomophagous habits.  The following key is adapted from Brues, Melander & Carpenter (1954) and Schlinger & Doutt (1964) by E. F. Legner:

 

Refer to <Guide 1a>  or < Guide 1b> for more illustrations

 & <Lepidoptera> for order details

 

Also see Familiar Butterflies

 

----Please CLICK on underlined categories to view illustrations & to navigate in the key:

 

LEPIDOPTERA  <General Characteristics>  [Latest Classification]

 

2

1a.  Antennae simple or modified, but usually not swollen apically; hind wing with frenulum; ocelli often present .......... (Lepidoptera)  (Heterocera)   <General Characteristics>    [Latest Classification]

 

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1b.  Antennae knobbed at tip; hind wing without a frenulum; ocelli absent (Rhopalocera) ............ Lycaenidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

3

2a.  Wings absent or greatly reduced in size

 

5

2b.  Wings normally developed

 

4

3a.  Moth not developing in a sac constructed by the larva

 

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3b.  Moth developing in and often never leaving sac constructed by larva (also see couplets 7, 9 & 10) ......... Psychidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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4a.  Proboscis absent or vestigial (also see couplet 12) ........ Pyralididae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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4b.  Proboscis present (also see couplets 11 & 12) ........ Noctuidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

6

5a.  Hind wing with 3 anal veins; fore wing usually with 1st anal vein reaching wing margin ........

 

10

5b.  Hind wing with 2 anal veins, rarely with one

 

7

6a.  Hind wing with veins Sc+R1 and Rs widely separate beyond discal cell

 

12

6b.  Hind wing with veins Sc+R1 and Rs fused or closely parallel between discal cell and wing tip.

 

8

7a.  Fore wings with radial (accessory) cell

 

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7b.  Fore wing without radial cell (also see couplets 3, 9 & 10) ......... Psychidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

9

8a.  Proboscis vestigial

 

13

8b.  Mouth parts usually developed, with scaled proboscis

 

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9a.  Tibial spurs short or absent ........ Epipyropidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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9b.  Hind tibia with 2 pairs of spurs (also see couplets 3, 7 & 10) ......... Psychidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

11

10a.  Fore wing with single complete anal vein

 

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10b.  Fore wing with anal veins almost fused or connected by a crossvein so as to end as a single vein (also see couplets 3, 7 & 9) ......... Psychidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

12

11a.  Shaft of antennae tapering evenly from base to tip.

 

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11b.  Antennae thickened before tip, usually ending in a recurved hook (also see couplets 4 & 12) ......... Noctuidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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12a.  Hind wing with Sc usually free from Rs along the cell, though sometimes approaching it (also see couplet 4) (Chrysauginae, Phycitinae, Pyraustinae) .......... Pyralidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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12b.  Hind wing with Sc fused with Rs for short distance before the middle of cell (also see couplets 4 & 11) .......... Noctuidae

 

14

13a.  Maxillary palpi straight and extend forward horizontally, or vestigial

 

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13b.  Maxillary palpi conspicuous, folded in resting position ........ Oenophilidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

15

14a.  Basal segment of antenna simple, though often with scales, hairs, or bristles

 

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14b.  Basal segment of antenna enlarged and concave beneath, forming an eyecap (also see couplet 21) ......... Blastobasidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

16

15a.  Hind wing with well-developed anal region; venation almost complete

 

18

15b.  Hind wing narrow-lanceolate or linear; venation often reduced

 

17

16a.  Hind wing with anal vein not distally forked

 

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16b.  Hind wing with third anal vein distally forked ......... Cyclotornidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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17a.  Upper side of hind wing with fringe of long hairs on basal part of Cu ......... Olethreutidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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17b.  Hind wing without fringe of long hairs on basal part of Cu. ........ Tortricidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

19

18a.  Fore wing with discal cell formed

 

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18b.  Fore wing without closed cell (also see couplet 19) ....... Heliodinidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

20

19a.  Hind tarsi without evident groups of bristles

 

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19b.  Hind tarsi with somewhat distinct groups of bristles near the ends of the several segments (also see couplet 18) ....... Heliodinidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

21

20a.  Fore wing with discal cell set obliquely, the end distinctly closer to the hind margin than to costa; vein Cu2 very short and usually extending directly back to wing margin

 

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20b.  Fore wing with discal cell axial and central; vein Cu2 normally long and continuing parallel with median veins (also see couplet 21) ....... (Cosmopterygidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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21a.  Fore wing with blunt discal cell; veins R2 and Cu arising from the end of discal cell (also see couplet 14) ......... Blastobasidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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21b.  Fore wing without stigma; vein R2 arising distinctly before end of discal cell (also see couplet 20) ......... Cosmopterigidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>