LEPIDOPTERA
Keys to Adults of Entomophagous Lepidoptera
Families
(Email Contacts)
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]
2a. Wings absent or greatly reduced in size
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2b. Wings normally developed
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3a. Moth not developing in a sac constructed
by the larva
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5a. Hind wing with 3 anal
veins; fore wing usually with 1st anal
vein reaching wing margin ........
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5b. Hind wing with 2 anal
veins, rarely with one
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6a. Hind wing with veins Sc+R1 and Rs
widely separate beyond discal cell
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6b. Hind wing with veins Sc+R1 and Rs
fused or closely parallel between discal cell and wing tip.
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7a. Fore wings with radial (accessory) cell
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8b. Mouth parts usually developed, with
scaled proboscis
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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>
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11a. Shaft of antennae tapering evenly from
base to tip.
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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
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13a. Maxillary palpi straight and extend
forward horizontally, or vestigial
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14a. Basal segment of antenna simple, though
often with scales, hairs, or bristles
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15a. Hind wing with well-developed anal
region; venation almost complete
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15b. Hind wing narrow-lanceolate or linear;
venation often reduced
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16a. Hind wing with anal vein not distally
forked
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18a. Fore wing with discal cell formed
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19a. Hind tarsi without evident groups of bristles
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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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