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, 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,
atlas moth, 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''
* ''
Epiphora''
* ''
Eupackardia''
* ''
Hyalophora''
* ''
Rhodinia''
* ''
Rothschildia''
Grote, 1896
* ''
Samia''
Tribe Bunaeini
Packard, 1902
* ''
Athletes''
* ''
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'' – 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''
* ''
Cricula''
* ''
Eudia'' (mostly included in ''Saturnia'')
* ''
Graellsia''
* ''
Lemaireia''
* ''
Loepa''
* ''
Loepantheraea''
* ''
Neodiphthera''
* ''Neoris'' (mostly included in ''Saturnia'')
* ''
Opodiphthera''
* ''
Pararhodia''
* ''
Perisomena'' (sometimes included in ''Saturnia'')
* ''
Rinaca''
* ''
Saturnia'' – typical emperor moths
* ''
Solus''
* ''
Syntherata''
Tribe Urotini
* ''
Antherina''
* ''
Antistathmoptera''
* ''
Eosia''
* ''
Eudaemonia''
* ''
Maltagorea''
* ''
Parusta''
* ''
Pselaphelia''
* ''
Pseudantheraea''
* ''
Pseudaphelia''
* ''
Sinobirma''
* ''
Tagoropsis''
* ''
Urota''
* ''
Usta''
References
{{Taxonbar , from=Q136393
Saturniidae