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LEPIDOPTERA

(fr. Schlinger & Doutt, 1964)

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Of the 160+ lepidopterous families, about 12 have species exhibiting entomophagous habits.

The following key is adapted from Brues, Melander & Carpenter (1954) and Schlinger & Doutt (1964):

Keys to Adults of Families of Entomophagous Lepidoptera

[Please refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]

1a. Antennae simple or modified, but usually not swollen apically; hind wing with frenulum; ocelli often present

(Heterocera)..................................................................................................................................................2

1b. Antennae knobbed at tip; hind wing without a frenulum; ocelli absent (Rhopalocera) ....................Lycaenidae

2a. Wings absent or greatly reduced in size...............................................................................................................3

2b. Wings normally developed..................................................................................................................................5

3a. Moth not developing in a sac constructed by the larva........................................................................................4

3b. Moth developing in and often never leaving sac constructed by larva (also see couplets 7, 9 & 10)....Psychidae

4a. Proboscis absent or vestigial (also see couplet 12).............................................................................Pyralididae

4b. Proboscis present (also see couplets 11 & 12)......................................................................................Noctuidae

5a. Hind wing with 3 anal veins; fore wing usually with 1st anal vein reaching wing margin .................................6

5b. Hind wing with 2 anal veins, rarely with 1........................................................................................................10

6a. Hind wing with veins S_c+R₁ and R_s widely separate beyond discal cell..............................................................7

6b. Hind wing with veins S_c+R₁ and R_s fused or closely parallel between discal cell and wing tip........................12

7a. Fore wings with radial (accessory) cell................................................................................................................8

7b. Fore wing without radial cell (also see couplets 3, 9 & 10).................................................................Psychidae

8a. Proboscis vestigial................................................................................................................................................9

8b. Mouth parts usually developed, with scaled proboscis......................................................................................13

9a. Tibial spurs short or absent.............................................................................................................Epipyropidae

9b. Hind tibia with 2 pairs of spurs (also see couplets 3, 7 & 10)..............................................................Psychidae

10a. Fore wing with single complete anal vein.......................................................................................................11

10b. Fore wing with anal veins almost fused or connected by a crossvein so as to end as a single vein (also see

couplets 3, 7 & 9)..........................................................................................................................Psychidae

11a. Shaft of antennae tapering evenly from base to tip.........................................................................................12

11b. Antennae thickened before tip, usually ending in a recurved hook (also see couplets 4 & 12).........Noctuidae

12a. Hind wing with S_c usually free from R_s along the cell, though sometimes approaching it (also see couplet 4)

(Chrysauginae, Phycitinae, Pyraustinae)....................................................................................Pyralididae

12b. Hind wing with S_c fused with R_s for short distance before the middle of cell (also see couplets 4 & 11)

......................................................................................................................................................Noctuidae

13a. Maxillary palpi straight and extend forward horizontally, or vestigial...........................................................14

13b. Maxillary palpi conspicuous, folded in resting position...............................................................Oenophilidae

14a. Basal segment of antenna simple, though often with scales, hairs, or bristles................................................15

14b. Basal segment of antenna enlarged and concave beneath, forming an eyecap (also see couplet 21)

................................................................................................................................................Blastobasidae

15a. Hind wing with well-developed anal region; venation almost complete........................................................16

15b. Hind wing narrow-lanceolate or linear; venation often reduced....................................................................18

16a. Hind wing with anal vein not distally forked.................................................................................................17

16b. Hind wing with third anal vein distally forked...........................................................................Cyclotornidae

17a. Upper side of hind wing with fringe of long hairs on basal part of C_u........................................Olethreutidae

17b. Hind wing without fringe of long hairs on basal part of C_u.............................................................Tortricidae

18a. Fore wing with discal cell formed.................................................................................................................19

18b. Fore wing without closed cell (also see couplet 19).....................................................................Heliodinidae

19a. Hind tarsi without evident groups of bristles................................................................................................20

19b. Hind tarsi with somewhat distinct groups of bristles near the ends of the several segments (also see couplet

18)...........................................................................................................................................Heliodinidae

20a. Fore wing with discal cell set obliquely, the end distinctly closer to the hind margin than to costa; vein C_u2

very short and usually extending directly back to wing margin..............................................................21

20b. Fore wing with discal cell axial and central; vein C_u2 normally long and continuing parallel with median veins

(also see couplet 21).............................................................................(Lavernidae)...Cosmopterygidae

21a. Fore wing with blunt discal cell; veins R₂ and C_u arising from the end of discal cell (also see couplet 14)

.............................................................................................................................................Blastobasidae

21b. Fore wing without stigma; vein R₂ arising distinctly before end of discal cell (also see couplet 20)

.......................................................................................................................................Cosmopterygidae