Family BOMBYCIDAE
Compiler and date details
E.D. (Ted) Edwards
Introduction
The Australian Bombycidae were revised by Turner (1922b) who included those genera now placed in the Eupterotidae.
The endemic monotypic genus Gastridiota Turner was assigned to the Bombycidae and Elachyophthalma C. Felder were revised by Rothschild (1920).
The single species of Gastridiota inhabits subtropical rainforests in northeastern N.S.W. and southern Queensland. Elachyophthalma is apparently found in the rainforests on Cape York Peninsula and in New Guinea but this species has not been identified and is not included here (Nielson et al. 1996).
As with some other Bombycinae, the larvae of Gastridiota feed on Ficus (Moraceae).
The silkworm, Bombyx mori (Linnaeus), was introduced with early settlement and is widely cultivated for casual silk production and for education in schools.
General References
Lin, R.-J., Lin, Y.-C., Braby, M.F., Zwick, A. & Hsu, Y.-F. 2024. Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of silkmoths (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) suggest an origin in Southern Gondwana. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 200(108176)
Nielson, E.S., Edwards, E.D. & Rangsi, T.V. 1996. Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera 4: i-xiv, 1-529 & CD-ROM [262]
Rothschild, L.W. 1920. On the genus Elachyophthalma Feld. Novitates Zoologicae 27: 321-326
Turner, A.J. 1922. Revision of Australian Lepidoptera. Saturniadae, Bombycidae, Eupterotidae, Notodontidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 47: 348-390 [Date published 15 Dec. 1922]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22-Oct-2024 | MODIFIED |