Subfamily PYRALINAE

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Subfamily PYRALINAE

Cledeobiinae.
Aglossinae.
Asopiinae.
Homalochroinae.
Hypotiinae.

Introduction

[Modified after Shaffer et al. 1996: 165]
Pyralinae are represented in Australia by 35 described species, many endemic. The oldest recorded native species were described by Walker (1859b), though the earliest described species occuring in Australia are introduced species including Pyralis farinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Aglossa pinguinalis (Linnaeus, 1758). Most recently the subspecies Vitessa zemire nephritica Munroe & Shaffer, 1980 was added. The revision of the genera Vitessidia Rothschild & Jordan, Cosmethella Munroe & Schaffer, 1980, and Vitessa Moore, 1860, by Munroe & Schaffer (1980) is the only recent revision in this large subfamily.

The subfamily is worldwide in distribution with an estimated 1400 described species and with probably an equal number as yet undescribed but known from collections. Most genera are in need of revision as the current classification is still basically that of Hampson from early this century. Common (1990) attributed 65 species to this subfamily from Australia, including some species which are now assigned to the Endotrichinae and Chrysauginae.

Common (1990) records the following host associations: Cardamyla carinentalis forming shelters between leaves of Pennantia cunninghamii; Ocrasa albidalis skeletonizing dead leaves of Eucalyptus; Pyralis farinalis as a pest of stored cereals. Gauna aegusalis burrows in Uromycladium galls on Acacia decurrens and other wattles.

Apart from the genitalic characters, most Pyralinae are easily distinguished by Sc+R approximated to but not fused with Rs in the hindwing. This is a character sometimes found in the Epipaschiinae, but they can be differentiated on wing marking, development of labial palpi and antennal features.