Castniidae, or castniid moths, is a small family of

moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...

s with fewer than 200 species: The majority are

Neotropical The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In biogeogra ...

with some in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

and a few in

south-east Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Australian mainland, which is part of Oceania. Southeast Asia i ...

. These are medium-sized to very large moths, usually with drab, cryptically marked forewings and brightly coloured hindwings. They have clubbed antennae and are day flying, and are often mistaken for

butterflies Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

. Indeed, some previous classification systems placed this family within the butterflies or skippers. The Neotropical species are commonly known as giant butterfly-moths, the Australian and Asian species as sun moths. The larvae are internal feeders, often on roots of

epiphytes An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...

or on

monocotyledons Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are flowering plants whose seeds contain only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. A monocot taxon has been in use for several decades, but with various ranks and ...

.184-188).

Taxonomy

Subfamily Castniinae *Tribe Castniini **''

Amauta Amauta (meaning "master" or "wise one" in Quechua) was a title for teachers in the Inca Empire The Inca Empire, officially known as the Realm of the Four Parts (, ), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, pol ...

'' **'' Athis'' **'' Castnia'' **'' Castniomera'' **''

Corybantes According to Greek mythology, the Korybantes or Corybantes (also Corybants) (; ) were the armed and crested dancers who worshipped the Phrygian goddess Cybele with drumming and dancing. They are also called the ''Kurbantes'' in Phrygia. Etymolog ...

'' **'' Eupalamides'' **'' Feschaeria'' **'' Geyeria'' **'' Haemonides'' **'' Hista'' **'' Imara'' **'' Insigniocastnia'' **'' Ircila'' **'' Lapaeumides'' **'' Spilopastes'' **'' Synpalamides'' **'' Telchin'' **'' Xanthocastnia'' **'' Yagra'' *Tribe Gazerini **'' Castnius'' **'' Ceretes'' **'' Divana'' **'' Duboisvalia'' **'' Frostetola'' **'' Gazera'' **'' Mirocastnia'' **'' Oiticicastnia'' **'' Paysandisia'' **''

Prometheus In Greek mythology, Prometheus (; , , possibly meaning "forethought")Smith"Prometheus". is a Titans, Titan. He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by taking theft of fire, fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technol ...

'' **'' Riechia'' **'' Tosxampila'' **'' Zegara'' *Tribe Synemonini **'' Synemon'' Subfamily Tascininae *'' Tascina'' Subfamily ''

incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' * †'' Dominickus''

References

External links

Natural History Museum Lepidoptera genus list

Tree of LifeAustralian Moths Online
Moth families {{Castniidae-stub