Subfamily ODONTIINAE

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• Hercyninae.
• Dichogaminae.

Introduction

[Modified after Shaffer et al. (1996: 164)]
Odontiinae are represented in Australia by 36 species and 18 genera. The earliest recorded Australian species was by Walker (1869). Some species, like Heortia vitessoides (Moore, [1885]), are widespread in the Old World tropics. The oldest species Eurrhypis pollinalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), was recorded by Turner in his unpublished list, but has not been confirmed.

Systematic research is required on this group, which is not well known in the Old World regions. The most comprehensive study on Odontiinae is Munroe's (1961b, 1972b) work on the New World genera. Munroe listed all known genera for the world fauna, but there still remain some species incorrectly attributed to genus and subfamily. An estimate of the size of the world fauna is hampered by a lack of studies but there seem to be many undescribed species. The 90 or so genera presently recognised contain about 300 described species.

The subfamiliy is attributed to Guenée (1854), originally as family Odontidae. In Europe, Müller-Rutz give a name to the assemblage. Marion (1952) considered the group as a sub-tribe of his tribe Evergestini, using the name Tatanii, but Munroe's (1956, 1958) use of Odontiinae for the group has been generally accepted.

Larvae of several Australian genera have been recorded feeding on Myrtaceae. Heortia vitessoides has been recorded in Fiji on leaves of Phaleria lanceolata and other Odontiinae are known to be leaf-rollers, miners and seed feeders.

Most Odontiinae are distinctive in appearance, generally boldly marked with contrasting, particoloured maculation. A number may also be diurnal in habit. The group is characterised by the praecinctorium not being bilobed. In male Syntonarcha the genitalia have been modified to produce ultrasonic sound by stridulation (Gwynne & Edwards 1986).

General References

Gwynne, D.T. & Edwards, E.D. 1986. Ultrasound production by genital stridulation in Syntonarcha iriastis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): long-distance signalling by male moth? Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 88: 363-376

Marion, H. 1952. Ebauche d'une classification nouvelle des Pyraustidae. Revue Française de Lépidoptérologie 13: 260-270

Munroe, E. 1956. Pyralides récoltès a l'ile de la Guadeloupe par M.L. Berland. Revue Française d'Entomologie 23: 121-127

Munroe, E. 1958. Hampson's Schoenobiinae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). International Congress of Entomology 10(1): 301-302

Munroe, E. 1961. Synopsis of the North American Odontiinae, with descriptions of new genera and species (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The Canadian Entomologist Suppl. 24: 1-93

Munroe, E. 1972. Pyraloidea Pyralidae comprising subfamilies Odontiinae, Glaphyriinae. In, Dominick, R.B. et al. (eds). The Moths of America North of Mexico. London : E.W. Classey Limited and R.B.D. Publications Inc. Vol. 13.1b 137-250 pp.

Shaffer, M., Nielsen, E.S. & Horak, M. 1996. Pyraloidea. pp. 164-199 in Nielsen, E.S., Edwards, E.D. & Rangsi, T.V. (eds). Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia. Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 4 xiv 529 pp. & CD-ROM.

Turner, A.J. 1937. New Australian Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 48: 61-88

Walker, F. 1869. Characters of undescribed Lepidoptera Heterocera. London : E.W. Janson 112 pp.

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