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The Saturniinae or saturniines are a
subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...
of the family
Saturniidae Saturniidae, members of which are commonly named the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor m ...
, also known as giant silkmoths. They are commonly known as emperor moths or wild silk moths. They are easily spotted by the eyespots on the upper surface of their wings. Some exhibit realistic eye-like markings, whilst others have adapted the eyespots to form crescent moon or angular shapes or have lost their wing scales to create transparent windows. They are medium to very large moths, with adult wingspans ranging from 7.5 to 15 cm, in some cases even more. They consist of some of the largest sized
Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...
, such as the
luna moth The luna moth (''Actias luna''), also called the American moon moth, is a Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae, a group commonly named the giant silk moths. The moth has lime-green wings and a white body. Its cat ...
,
atlas moth ''Attacus atlas'', the Atlas moth, is a large Saturniidae, saturniid moth endemic to the forests of Asia. The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. The Atlas mo ...
, and many more. The Saturniinae is an important source of wild silk and human food in many different cultures. The saturniine
genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...
, approximately 169 in number, are divided into four major and one minor ( Micragonini)
tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
s. The genus '' Adafroptilum'' presently consists of a group of species with undetermined relationships. Adults in the Saturniinae typically live about 5–12 days and are mostly nocturnal, excluding males in four of the subfamilies. The moths do not eat during their short lives and their mouths are not fully formed. In some species of Saturniinae, there is unmistakable
sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where sexes of the same species exhibit different Morphology (biology), morphological characteristics, including characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most dioecy, di ...
. The females in these subfamilies can weigh almost double that of the males, are larger in size, and have larger wings. The Saturniinae's eggs are oblong and are laid flat against each other in clusters. Once hatched, the larval period lasts about 78 days. They typically pass through five larval
instar An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'' 'form, likeness') is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, which occurs between each moult (''ecdysis'') until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to ...
s (excluding egg, pupa and adult), although some may have more. The pupal stage takes place in an often yellowish cocoon. In this stage, they resemble small wooden barrels in shape and color.


Genera

Tribe Attacini * '' Archaeoattacus'' * '' Attacus'' * '' Callosamia'' * ''
Coscinocera ''Coscinocera'' is a genus of large moths from the family (biology), family Saturniidae, that are found in Australasia. The genus was erected by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879. The genus contains ''Coscinocera hercules'', the largest moth in Aus ...
'' * '' Epiphora'' * '' Eupackardia'' * ''
Hyalophora ''Hyalophora'' is a genus of moths in the family Saturniidae. The genus was erected by James Duncan and John O. Westwood in 1841. Species *''Hyalophora cecropia'' (Linnaeus, 1758) – cecropia moth *'' Hyalophora columbia'' (S.I. Smith, 1865) ...
'' * '' Rhodinia'' * '' Rothschildia'' Grote, 1896 * '' Samia'' Tribe Bunaeini Packard, 1902 * ''
Athletes An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance. Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors, i.e. including trac ...
'' * '' Aurivillius'' * '' Bunaea'' * '' Bunaeopsis'' * '' Cinabra'' * '' Cirina'' * '' Eochroa'' * '' Gonimbrasia'' * '' Gynanisa'' * '' Heniocha'' * '' Imbrasia'' * '' Leucopteryx'' * '' Lobobunaea'' * '' Melanocera'' * '' Nudaurelia'' * '' Protogynanisa'' * '' Pseudimbrasia'' * '' Pseudobunaea'' * '' Rohaniella'' * '' Ubaena'' Tribe Micragonini Cockerell in Packard, 1914 * '' Adafroptilum'' * '' Carnegia'' * '' Decachorda'' * '' Goodia'' * '' Holocerina'' * '' Ludia'' * '' Micragone'' * '' Orthogonioptilum'' * '' Pseudoludia'' * '' Vegetia'' Tribe Saturniini Boisduval, 1837 * '' Actias'' – Asian-American moon moths * '' Agapema'' (sometimes included in ''Saturnia'') * ''
Antheraea ''Antheraea'' is a genus of moths belonging to the family Saturniidae. It was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819. Several species of this genus have caterpillars which produce wild silk of commercial importance. Commonly called "tussar silk", the ...
'' – tussar moths * '' Antheraeopsis'' * '' Argema'' – African moon moths * ''
Caligula Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Augustus' granddaughter Ag ...
'' (sometimes included in ''Saturnia'' or ''Rinaca'') * '' Calosaturnia'' (sometimes included in ''Saturnia'') * '' Ceranchia'' * ''
Copaxa ''Copaxa'' is a genus of moths in the family Saturniidae first described by Francis Walker (entomologist), Francis Walker in 1855. Species The following species are recognised in the genus : *''Copaxa amazpandens'' *''Copaxa andensis'' *''Cop ...
'' * '' Cricula'' * '' Eudia'' (mostly included in ''Saturnia'') * '' Graellsia'' * '' Lemaireia'' * '' Loepa'' * '' Loepantheraea'' * '' Neodiphthera'' * ''Neoris'' (mostly included in ''Saturnia'') * ''
Opodiphthera ''Opodiphthera'' is a genus of moths from the family (biology), family Saturniidae that are endemism, endemic to Australia. ''Opodiphthera'' makes up the majority of Australia's saturniid moths. The genus contains the emperor gum moth ''(O. euca ...
'' * '' Pararhodia'' * '' Perisomena'' (sometimes included in ''Saturnia'') * '' Rinaca'' * ''
Saturnia Saturnia () is a spa town in Tuscany in north-central Italy that has been inhabited since ancient times. It is a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Manciano, in the province of Grosseto. Famous for the spa which gives it its name, its population ...
'' – typical emperor moths * '' Solus'' * '' Syntherata'' Tribe Urotini * '' Antherina'' * '' Antistathmoptera'' * '' Eosia'' * ''
Eudaemonia Eudaimonia (; ) is a Greek word literally translating to the state or condition of ''good spirit'', and which is commonly translated as ''happiness'' or ''welfare''. In the works of Aristotle, ''eudaimonia'' was the term for the highest human g ...
'' * '' Maltagorea'' * '' Parusta'' * '' Pselaphelia'' * '' Pseudantheraea'' * '' Pseudaphelia'' * '' Sinobirma'' * '' Tagoropsis'' * '' Urota'' * ''
Usta The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national Sport governing body, governing body for tennis in the United States. A not-for-profit organization with more than 700,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and devel ...
''


References

{{Taxonbar , from=Q136393 Saturniidae