Subfamily EPIPASCHIINAE

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Introduction

[After Shaffer et al. (1996: 164)]
Epipaschiinae are represented in Australia by 80 species, with Mimaglossa habitalis (Guenée, 1854) from Tasmania being the oldest recorded endemic species. Papers by Turner constitute the bulk of the more recent Australian literature and the subfamily is summarised by Common (1990). Worldwide the Epipaschiinae are known from between 800-900 described species, mostly in tropical regions. All genera in Australia need revision and many species await description.

Common (1990) records larvae of five species in four genera feeding on the leaves of Myrtaceae and T. thermoptera larvae are predators on the egg-masses of Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schäffer (Notodontidae: Thaumetopoeinae).

The moths bear a superficial resemblance to Noctuidae with their bulky, hairy apearance, shape of forewings, usually with cryptic markings and plain hindwings. They are easily distinguished as pyralids by the usually large, scaled proboscis, abdominal tympanal organs, the hind wing venation, and often recognised as Epipaschiinae by the male labial palpi and the antennal scape being greatly produced backwards curved over head and thorax.

Most recent studies are on the Neotropical fauna, where large numbers of undescribed species have been found. In one genus the tympanal organs are absent. This condition is almost unknown in the pyralids, except in the female of the nymphuline genus Lathroteles Clarke described from the Pacific island of Rapa.

General References

Common, I.F.B. 1990. Moths of Australia. Carlton : Melbourne University Press vi+535 pp., 32 pls.

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.

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