Callidulidae
Encyclopedia
Callidulidae, the only known family of the superfamily
Calliduloidea, is the family
of Old World butterfly-moths, containing eight genera
. They have a peculiar distribution, restricted to the Old World tropics of South East Asia to Australasia
and Madagascar
. The three subfamilies exhibit both day-flying and night-flying behaviour.
The mainly day-flying Callidulinae can be distinguished by their resting posture, which is the most butterfly
-like, with the wings held closely over the back. Resembling the butterfly family
Lycaenidae
, these moths
can be told apart by their antennae
which taper to a point or may be very subtly clubbed. The more often night-flying Pterothysaninae and Griveaudiinae have a different adult resting posture (the latter roof-like in repose) and these were not placed within the Callidulidae until recently.
Biology of most subfamilies and species. is poorly known. Eggs are very flat in Griveaudiinae and Callidulinae, and caterpillars of Callidulinae are green with a shiny black head and have only been reported from ferns forming a leaf roll in which they live, eat and finally pupa
te, while the pupa of Helicomitra appears to be subterranean.
The closest relatives of Callidulidae are not known, but they are currently placed in a group that includes the three butterfly
superfamilies, the "hook-tip moths" Drepanoidea
and the "geometer moths" Geometroidea
and also possibly Axioidea which share some structural characteristics.
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
Calliduloidea, is the family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
of Old World butterfly-moths, containing eight genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. They have a peculiar distribution, restricted to the Old World tropics of South East Asia to Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
and Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. The three subfamilies exhibit both day-flying and night-flying behaviour.
The mainly day-flying Callidulinae can be distinguished by their resting posture, which is the most butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
-like, with the wings held closely over the back. Resembling the butterfly family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
, these moths
Moths
Moths may refer to:* Gustav Moths , German rower* The Moths!, an English indie rock band* MOTHS, members of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats...
can be told apart by their antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
which taper to a point or may be very subtly clubbed. The more often night-flying Pterothysaninae and Griveaudiinae have a different adult resting posture (the latter roof-like in repose) and these were not placed within the Callidulidae until recently.
Biology of most subfamilies and species. is poorly known. Eggs are very flat in Griveaudiinae and Callidulinae, and caterpillars of Callidulinae are green with a shiny black head and have only been reported from ferns forming a leaf roll in which they live, eat and finally pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
te, while the pupa of Helicomitra appears to be subterranean.
The closest relatives of Callidulidae are not known, but they are currently placed in a group that includes the three butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
superfamilies, the "hook-tip moths" Drepanoidea
Drepanoidea
Drepanoidea is the superfamily of "hook tip moths". See Minet and Scoble for a comprehensive overview.-References:*Minet, J and Scoble, M.J. . The Drepanoid/Geometroid Assemblage. Ch. 17 in Kristensen, N.P. . Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography....
and the "geometer moths" Geometroidea
Geometroidea
Geometroidea is the superfamily of geometrid moths in the Lepidoptera. It includes the families Geometridae, Uraniidae, and Sematuridae...
and also possibly Axioidea which share some structural characteristics.
