Depressaria
Encyclopedia
Depressaria is a moth
genus
of the superfamily
Gelechioidea
. It is the type genus
of subfamily Depressariinae
, which is often – particularly in older treatments – considered a distinct family
Depressariidae or included in the Elachistidae
, but actually seems to belong in the Oecophoridae
.
The genus' type species
is the Parsnip Moth. Its scientific name has been much confused for about 200 years. A.H. Haworth
, on establishing the genus Depressaria in his 1811 issues of Lepidoptera Britannica, called the eventual type species Phalaena heraclei, an unjustified emendation of P. (Tortrix) heracliana. In this he followed such entomologists of his time as A.J. Retzius
, who in 1783 had believed the Parsnip Moth to be a species originally described by C. Linnaeus in 1758. But in fact, this was a misidentification; Linnaeus' moth was actually the one known today as Agonopterix heracliana
. To make matters worse, J. Curtis
popularized another incorrect spelling, D. heracleana, apparently first introduced (as Pyralis heracleana) by J.C. Fabricius
in his 1775 Systema Entomologiae.
Some other Oecophoridae
were formerly included here, among them close relatives of the present genus (e.g. Psorosticha zizyphi
and many species of Agonopterix
), as well as more distantly related taxa (e.g. Ironopolia sobriella
). Horridopalpus is sometimes still included in Depressaria as a subgenus
(namely by sources that uprank Depressariinae to full family status), but may be a far more distant relative. The members of the proposed subgenus Hasenfussia are tentatively retained here on the other hand, but their relationship to other Depressaria requires further study.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
genus
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...
of the superfamily
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...
Gelechioidea
Gelechioidea
| name = Curved-horn moths| image = Xylorycta assimilis.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Xylorycta assimilis of the Xyloryctidae, photographed in Aranda Note prominent "horns" and long antennae| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda...
. It is the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of subfamily Depressariinae
Depressariinae
| image = Psorosticha zizyphi .jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Psorosticha zizyphi| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta| ordo = Lepidoptera| subordo = Glossata| infraordo = Heteroneura...
, which is often – particularly in older treatments – considered a distinct family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Depressariidae or included in the Elachistidae
Elachistidae
| image = Elachista rufocinerea 2.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Elachista rufocinerea,demonstrating its tiny size versus an aphid and a spider mite | regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta...
, but actually seems to belong in the Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this....
.
The genus' type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is the Parsnip Moth. Its scientific name has been much confused for about 200 years. A.H. Haworth
Adrian Hardy Haworth
Adrian Hardy Haworth was an English entomologist, botanist and carcinologist.He was the son of Benjamin Haworth of Haworth Hall...
, on establishing the genus Depressaria in his 1811 issues of Lepidoptera Britannica, called the eventual type species Phalaena heraclei, an unjustified emendation of P. (Tortrix) heracliana. In this he followed such entomologists of his time as A.J. Retzius
Anders Jahan Retzius
Anders Jahan Retzius was a Swedish chemist, botanist and entomologist.-Biography:Born in Kristianstad, he matriculated at Lund University in 1758, where he graduated as a filosofie magister in 1766. He also trained as an apothecary apprentice. He reveived the position of docent of chemistry at...
, who in 1783 had believed the Parsnip Moth to be a species originally described by C. Linnaeus in 1758. But in fact, this was a misidentification; Linnaeus' moth was actually the one known today as Agonopterix heracliana
Agonopterix heracliana
Agonopterix heracliana is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is found in most of Europe, North Africa, the Near East and the eastern part of the Palearctic ecozone.The wingspan is 17-25 mm...
. To make matters worse, J. Curtis
John Curtis (entomologist)
John Curtis was an English entomologist and illustrator.-Biography:Curtis was born in Norwich and learned his engraving skills in the workshop of his father, Charles Morgan Curtis...
popularized another incorrect spelling, D. heracleana, apparently first introduced (as Pyralis heracleana) by J.C. Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
in his 1775 Systema Entomologiae.
Selected species
New species of Depressaria continue to be discovered and described. Known species include:Some other Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this....
were formerly included here, among them close relatives of the present genus (e.g. Psorosticha zizyphi
Psorosticha zizyphi
The Citrus Leaf Roller is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is found in south-east Asia, including Hong Kong, India, Ceylon, New Guinea and Queensland and New South Wales in Australia....
and many species of Agonopterix
Agonopterix
Agonopterix is a moth genus of the superfamily Gelechioidea. It is placed in the subfamily Depressariinae, which is often – particularly in older treatments – considered a distinct family Depressariidae or included in the Elachistidae, but actually seems to belong in the...
), as well as more distantly related taxa (e.g. Ironopolia sobriella
Ironopolia sobriella
Ironopolia sobriella is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is found in Australia....
). Horridopalpus is sometimes still included in Depressaria as a subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
(namely by sources that uprank Depressariinae to full family status), but may be a far more distant relative. The members of the proposed subgenus Hasenfussia are tentatively retained here on the other hand, but their relationship to other Depressaria requires further study.