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Dioptinae Walker 1862

James S. Miller and Andrew V. Z. Brower
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taxon links [up-->]Josiini [up-->]Dioptini [down<--]Notodontidae Interpreting the tree
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Containing group: Notodontidae

Introduction

The Dioptinae are an almost exclusively neotropical group of day-flying moths, many of which exhibit bright wing coloration and are involved in mimicry rings with butterflies (especially Ithomiini), sterrhine Geometridae and various arctiids. The two specimens illustrated above are representatives of the type species of Dioptis and Josia, the type genera of the two tribes indicated here.

Characteristics

Small, delicate, mostly day-flying Notodontidae which are frequently confused with similarly marked Arctiidae and Geometridae. Miller (2009) points out that the easiest means to distinguish a dioptine is by (1) presence of a metathoracic tympanum, which separates it from Geometridae, whose tympana occur on the first abdominal segment; and (2) a trifid forewing venation, as opposed to quadrifid venation in Arctiidae.

References

Although numerous authors have described individual species of Dioptinae, the list of works cited below includes historical and modern efforts to revise the entire group. The classification presented here and in subordinate branches is based on the most recent of these (Miller, 2009).

Bryk, F. 1930. Dioptidae. In: E. Strand (ed.) Lepidopterorum Catalogus 42: 1-65. Berlin, W. Junk.

Hering, EM. 1925. Dioptidae. In: A. Seitz (ed.) Macrolepidoptera of the World. 6:501-534. Stuttgart, Alfred Kernen.

Miller, JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321, 1-971 + 48 plates.

Prout, LB. 1918. A provisional arrangement of the Dioptidae. Novitates Zoologicae 25: 395-429.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
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Scientific Name Dioptis cyma
Location Brazil: Pará, Belem
Reference Miller JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321, 1-971 + 48 plates. (Plate 21)
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Identified By James S. Miller
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage adult
View dorsal
Collection PMNH
Collector Jorge Kesselring
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2009
Scientific Name Josia ligula
Location Brazil: Rondônia, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 200 m
Reference Miller JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321, 1-971 + 48 plates. (Plate 32)
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Identified By James S. Miller
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage adult
View dorsal
Collection AMNH
Collector André Sourakov
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2009
About This Page



Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to James S. Miller at and Andrew V. Z. Brower at

Page: Tree of Life Dioptinae Walker 1862. Authored by James S. Miller and Andrew V. Z. Brower. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Miller, James S. and Andrew V. Z. Brower. 2010. Dioptinae Walker 1862. Version 21 June 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Dioptinae/138571/2010.06.21 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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