family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Batrachedridae
The Batrachedridae are a small family (biology), family of tiny moths. These are small, slender moths which rest with their wings wrapped tightly around their bodies.
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of this and related groups is often disputed.
This grou ...
, with representatives all over the world. The early stages of most species are unknown. The genus name is derived from the Greek words ''batrachos'', 'frog', and ''edra'', 'seat', referring to the frog-like resting posture of the adult moths. As of 2018 at least some 114 species are known to belong to the genus.
Distribution
There are only three species found in Europe. There is an especially high amount of
biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...
in the
Indomalayan realm
The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia.
Also called the Oriental realm by biogeographers, Indomalaya spreads all over the Ind ...
.
Ecology
Of most species little is known about the ecology, but of those of which it is known, the caterpillars across the genus use a large variety of host plants. At least two mine within pine or spruce needles, one is found respectively on
Cyperaceae
The Cyperaceae () are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as wikt:sedge, sedges. The family (biology), family is large; botanists have species description, described some 5,500 known species in about 90 ...
,
Juncaceae
Juncaceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the rush family. It consists of 8 genera and about 464 known species of slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous monocotyledonous plants that may superficially resemble grasses and ...
, ''
Salix
Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions.
Most species are known ...
'' and ''
Populus
''Populus'' is a genus of 25–30 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar (), aspen, and cottonwood.
The we ...
pineapple
The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a Tropical vegetation, tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae.
The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been culti ...
s, another a pest of ''
Agave
''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large Rosette (botany), rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves.
Many plan ...
'', one feeds on the fruit of ''
Smilax china
''Smilax china'' is a climbing plant species in the genus ''Smilax''. It is native to China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan (including Ryukyu and Bonin Islands), Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and India. It is also known as china root, china-root ...
Batrachedra aphypnota
''Batrachedra aphypnota'' is a moth of the family Batrachedridae. It is found in Sri Lanka (western region, Puttalam
Puttalam (; ) is the largest town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. P ...
Batrachedra atomosella
''Batrachedra atomosella'' is a moth in the family Batrachedridae. It is found in Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia– ...
Batrachedra decoctor
''Batrachedra decoctor'' is a species of moth of the family Batrachedridae. It is native to the southeastern United States, especially northern Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeaster ...
Batrachedra dolichoscia
''Batrachedra dolichoscia'' is a moth in the family Batrachedridae. It is found in Colombia. It is part of the genus Batrachedra.
References
Natural History Museum Lepidoptera generic names catalog
Batrachedridae
Moths described in 1928
...
Batrachedra megalodoxa
''Batrachedra megalodoxa'' is a species of moth of the family Batrachedridae. It is found in Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (conti ...
Batrachedra smilacis
''Batrachedra smilacis'' is a moth in the family Batrachedridae. It is found in China and Korea.
The length of the forewings is 4.4 mm for males and 4.7 mm for females.
The larvae bore the fruit of ''Smilax china
''Smilax china'' i ...
Batrachedra tristicta
''Batrachedra tristicta'' is a species of moth in the family Batrachedridae. It is Endemism, endemic to New Zealand and has been found in both the North Island, North and South Island, South Islands. The larvae feel on the flowers and seed heads ...
Batrachedra cuniculata
''Chedra microstigma'' is a tiny moth of the family Batrachedridae described in 1907. It has only been found on Oahu. It has been found feeding on sedges, plants belonging to the family Cyperaceae, and its larvae host at least three species of ...