Overview
Brief Summary
Diversity
Arrhenophanidae adult The Arrhenophanidae are a small family currently represented by five genera and 26 species. The family occurs in wet tropical forests of southeast Asia (*Palaeophanes*, four species), Australia (*Notiophanes fuscata*), and through much of the Neotropical Region (except the West Indies; *Arrhenophanes*, *Cnissostages*, *Dysoptus*, 21 species).
Trusted
Distribution
Geographical Distribution
Oriental, Neotropical, Australian
Geographic Distribution:
The Arrhenophanidae are a small family currently represented by five genera and 26 species. The family occurs in wet tropical forests of southeast Asia (Palaeophanes, four species), Australia (*Notiophanes fuscata*), and through much of the Neotropical Region (except the West Indies; *Arrhenophanes*, *Cnissostages*, *Dysoptus*, 21 species).
Trusted
Physical Description
Morphology
Egg morphology
to 0.87
Texture:
smooth
Orientation:
flat
Description of egg morphology:
Flat type (with micropylar axis parallel to substrate). Maximum length 0.87 mm, width 0.56 mm. All surfaces generally smooth except for reticular micropyle area composed of 25-35 irregular cells bounded by low ridges.
Trusted
Larvae Morphology
from 6
Larval head description:
Frontoclypeus extending ca. 2/3 the distance to epicranial notch; ecdysial line terminating well before cranial notch. Six pairs of stemmata. Labrum with 3 pairs of epipharyngeal setae. Hypostoma narrowly joined at midventer.
Secondary setae:
absent
Body setae on verrucae:
absent
Body setae on chalazae:
absent
Body setae on scoli:
absent
Larval body description:
Body up to 30 mm in length, whitish with yellowish brown head, light brown to black notal plates and pinacula.
Spinneret:
present
Larval thorax description:
Prespiracular plate containing spiracle completely separate from pronotal plate. Spiracles with a pronounced, raised peritreme, oval with the long axis oriented vertically; spiracular aperture with a dense, spinose filtering system.
Thoracic glands:
absent
Thoracic legs:
present
Pairs of thoracic legs:
from 3
Larval Prothoracic L-group setae:
trisetose
Abdominal glands:
absent
Abdominal prolegs:
present
Pairs of abdominal legs:
from 4
Proleg configuration:
normal
Proleg size:
short
Crochets:
uniserial, arranged in penellipse
Crochet arrangement description:
Crochets arranged in a lateral penellipse; prolegs without peripheral spines; anal crochets in a semi-ellipse, opened caudally.
Anal comb on A10:
absent
Trusted
Pupa/Cocoon morphology
adecticous
Pupa description:
Head smooth, without frontal ridge. Wings relatively short, not surpassing A 4. Pronotal spiracle elongate, transverse, with inner anterior margin minutely serrulate. First abdominal spiracle not exposed, located in membrane beneath hindwing sheaths. Dorsum of A 3-8 in male and A 4-8 in female with a single anterior row of short spines; A 3-8 movable in male and A 3-6 in female. Spiracles functional on A 1-8; A 8 with reduced, nonfunctional spiracles. Cremaster reduced to a pair of small tubercules on venter of A 10. Pupation occurs inside larval case with the adult emerging from distal slit-like opening.
Pupal tergal spines:
present
Cremaster:
present
Number of rows of tergal spines:
from 1
Trusted
Adult Abdomen Morphology
Ditrysian
Oviscapt (ovipositor):
non-piercing
Female genitalia description:
Arrhenophanidae female genitalia Segments 8 and 9 10 forming a slender, elongate telescoping ovipositor supported by 2 pairs of greatly lengthened apophyses in addition to an elongate pair of pseudapophyses confined within the extended tenth segment. Caudal region of sternum 8 projecting free of eighth segment up to 2/3 its length; ostium located at caudal margin of sternum 8; lamella postvaginalis typically projecting caudad of ostium, sometimes not so developed and flush with ostium. Ductus bursae elongate, usually broader and more thickened over caudal third (antrum). Ductus seminalis usually joining ductus bursae anterior to middle of latter, of variable length, usually extremely long in those species with male possessing greatly lengthened vesica. Corpus bursae moderately small, membranous and without signa.
Female corethrogyne:
present
Female pregenital sexual scales:
absent
Female accessory glands:
one pair
Female oviduct opening:
below anus
Female bursa ostium opening:
on venter 8
Female anterior apophyses originating:
from venter 8
Male coremata:
present, absent
Male pregenital sexual scales:
absent
Male genitalia description:
Arrhenophanidae male genitalia Uncus fused to tegumen, usually tapering to a slender, rounded apex, rarely bilobed. Vinculum usually Y- shaped, with a slender, elongate saccus, sometimes V-shaped. Gnathos absent. Transtilla well developed, firmly connecting bases of valvae. Anellus a thick membranous to sclerotized tube enclosing aedoeagus, often broadening at base to fuse with inner surfaces of valvae, and typically connected to vinculum by a slender jugum. Valvae elongate, usually with a prominent, strongly sclerotized lobe or process from apex of sacculus. Diaphragma usually invaginated (in New World species, absent in Old World species) to form a large membranous sac (apotheca, Bradley 1951) dorsad to anellus; apotheca absent in Old World species and in a few Neotropical species. Aedoeagus extremely slender and elongate, usually with a tenuous, permanently exserted, non-retractile, partially sclerotized vesica, (in New World species), often exceeding length of aedoeagus; vesica normally coiled inside apotheca prior to mating, sometimes broken off inside ductus seminalis of female during copulation; vesica membranous and not permanently exserted in Old World species; aedoeagus with a basal, midventral keel-like ridge in *Palaeophanes*.
Sternum 5:
without fenestra
Sternum 5 gland:
absent
Adult abdomen description:
Paired sternal apodemes of A 8 short, stout to slender, not parallel, tending to converge anteriorly; sternal rods present; S 8 of male with anterolateral angles projecting anteriorly as short, triangular apodemes. Coremata usually present on S 8 of male (absent in *Arrhenophanes* and in some *Dysoptus*), consisting of small, paired tufts of short, slender scales. Female with dense corethrogyne of long piliform scales encircling A 8.
Male has:
phallotheca and aedeagus (phallus)
Trusted
Adult Thorax Morphology
absent
Epiphysis:
present
Forelegs:
normal
Number of tibial spurs foreleg:
from 0
Number of tibial spurs midleg:
from 2
Number of tibial spurs hindleg:
from 4
Leg description:
. Legs with tibial spur pattern of 0-2-4; epiphysis present, length from 2 - 2/3 that of tibia; inner surface of epiphysis densely spinose. Tibia and tarsomeres without spines.
Forewing length from mid-dorsum to apex (mm):
from 4 to 33
Wing venation??description:
Arrhenophanidae wing
Wing venation:
heteroneurous
Forewing cell veins:
forked, unforked
Forewing basal loop:
present
Forewing pterostigma:
absent
Forewing chorda:
present
Number of Rs veins in forewing:
from 3 to 4
Number of M veins in forewing:
from 3
Forewing upper surface with microtrichia:
absent
Hindwing anal vein notation:
1A + 2A
Number of anal veins reaching margin:
from 1
Hindwing cell vein:
forked, unforked
Number of Rs veins in hindwing:
from 1
Hindwing pterostigma:
absent
Wing coupling:
with frenulum
Wing scales:
hollow
Forewing description:
Forewings moderately broad; W/L index 0.39 - 0.46; R variable, with either 4 or 5 branches to margin; R2and R3 often stalked (separate in *Notiophanes* and sometimes *Palaeophanes*); R4 and 5 separate in *Cnissostages*, stalked in *Notiophanes*, fused in Palaeophanes, *Dysoptus*, and *Arrhenophanes*; R5 terminating either on apex or termen; accessory and intercalary cells either present (*Palaeophanes*, *Notiophanes*, *Cnissostages*) or absent (*Dysoptus*, *Arrhenophanes*); 1A + 2A with basal fork; a semitransparent, hyaline spot sometimes developed in discal cell (especially in a few *Dysoptus* and *Arrhenophanes*, with thin, mostly erect scales; male retinaculum consisting of a broad, triangular lobe arising from underside of costal membrane immediately anterior to and curling over base of Sc; female retinaculum poorly developed, primarily consisting of a dense concentration of scales from ventral caudal margin of base of subcostal vein.
Hindwing description:
Hindwing W/L index 0.43 - 0.63; male frenulum a single stout seta; female with 4-14 frenular setae.
Trusted
Tympanum Morphology
absent
Abdomen tympanum:
absent
Thorax tympanum:
absent
Palp tympanum:
absent
Trusted
Adult Head Morphology
absent
Eyes:
smooth
Labial palpus:
upcurved
Number of labial palp segments:
from 3
Labial palpus modification:
Labial palpi moderately long, lateral bristles absent.
Maxillary palpus:
present, minute
Number of maxillary palp segments:
from 2 to 3
Proboscis:
present, reduced
Proboscis texture:
naked
Proboscis description:
Proboscis reduced to a short setose tube varying in length from ~ 2X length of first maxillary palpal segment in *Palaeophanes*, to essentially absent in *Arrhenophanes*.
Mandibles:
absent
Head vertex scaling:
normal, very rough
Female antennae:
bipectinate, serrate
Male antennae:
filiform, serrate
Antennal sensillum:
Antennal sensillum present
Sensillum vesiculocladum:
absent
Asciod sensilla:
absent
General antennae description:
Antenna 0.3 - 0.6 the length of forewing, 30-61-segmented; scape smooth to rough; pecten absent except for slender scale tuft in *Notiophanes*; flagellum filiform to serrate in male (male unknown in *Notiophanes*), serrate to bipectinate in female of all genera but filiform in both sexes of *Palaeophanes*; scales present only over dorsal half and arranged in multiple series per segment within irregular, longitudinal rows; 1-2 pedunculate setae projecting from anterior margin of each flagellomere , particularly evident in those species with filiform or serrate antennae; peduncles less pronounced and usually located at apices or anterior margins of rami on pectinate antennae.
Adult head description:
Arrhenophanidae head Head vestiture generally rough, especially in *Palaeophanes*, but with scales of lower half of frons more densely packed and uniformly short, tri- to quadridentate in other genera; scales of upper frons and vertex longer and more slender and partially directed down over frons. Eyes moderate to large, interocular index ~ 0.7-1.7; cornea naked.
Trusted
Diagnostic Description
Synapomorphies
Unusual prolongation of the caudal margin and sterigma of the eighth sternum, usually associated with the separation of the lamella postvaginalis from the eighth segment.. A pair of short, triangular apophyses from the anterio-lateral corners of the male eighth sternum.. Development in the males of a thickened, usually sclerotized anellus, typically fused to the transtilla and base of the valvae.
Trusted
Life History and Behavior
Behavior
Reproduction
Life History: Immature Stages
wood decay fungi (Coriolaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, and Polyporaceae)
Larval food habits description:
The larvae are fungivorous, boring in various species of wood decay fungi (Coriolaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, and Polyporaceae). Busck reports the larvae to be gregarious, with several dark brown, moderately flattened cases protruding from a single fungus. From the attached cases the larvae construct long, irregular, silk-lined tunnels into the fungus. The larva of *Dysoptus probatus* constructs firm, slender, cylindrical cases that project out from the host fungus, and which the larva moves around over the lower surfaces of the shelf fungus. Immediately prior to pupation, larvae of apparently all Arrhenophanidae close the attached, anterior end of the case and invert their body, with the head directed toward the flattened or tapered, posterior end.
Life habits of immature stages:
The larvae are fungivorous, boring in various species of wood decay fungi (Coriolaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, and Polyporaceae). Busck reports the larvae to be gregarious, with several dark brown, moderately flattened cases protruding from a single fungus. From the attached cases the larvae construct long, irregular, silk-lined tunnels into the fungus. The larva of *Dysoptus probatus* constructs firm, slender, cylindrical cases that project out from the host fungus, and which the larva moves around over the lower surfaces of the shelf fungus. Immediately prior to pupation, larvae of apparently all Arrhenophanidae close the attached, anterior end of the case and invert their body, with the head directed toward the flattened or tapered, posterior end.
Trusted
Life History: Adults
T
Adult food habits description:
Adults non-feeding.
Life habits of adults:
Adult Arrhenophanidae are non-feeding, nocturnal, and readily attracted to lights.
Trusted
Evolution and Systematics
Evolution
Phylogenetic Relationships
Since the family`s inception, authors have usually considered Arrhenophanidae to be closely associated, or even grouped (Robinson, 1988), with Psychidae. The development of a furcal bridge, formed by the fusion of the metafurca to the secondary furcal arms, constitutes an important synapomorphy found in the adult thorax of both families (Robinson, 1988; Davis and Robinson, 1999). Larvae of both families construct cases, although those of Psychidae tend to be more portable, with psychid larvae demonstrating certain specializations (e.g., prolegs directed more forward and thorax - particularly the pronotum and sterna - with greater fusion) for stronger mobility. The larvae of some Tineidae, as well as a few non tineoid families, also construct portable cases. Prior to pupation, arrhenophanid larvae invert their position inside the case with their head directed toward the posterior end. Similar behavior occurs in nearly all Psychidae (Davis, 2000b) and in certain other families where the larval case is suspended for pupation. Three possible autapomorphies serve to distinguish adult Arrhenophanidae: 1) the unusual prolongation of the caudal margin and sterigma of the eighth sternum, usually associated with the separation of the lamella postvaginalis from the eighth segment; 2) a pair of short, triangular apophyses from the anterio-lateral corners of the male eighth sternum; and 3) the development in the males of a thickened, usually sclerotized anellus, typically fused to the transtilla and base of the valvae. The female ostium and lamella postvaginalis (when present)in Psychidae arise flush with the eighth segment; apophyses are lacking from the eighth sternum of most species, and the anellus is membranous. Psychidae, which are primarily characterized by more specialized larvae, may be derived from Arrhenophanidae. What little is known of the arrhenophanid larva indicates it to be more generalized, with the prothoracic spiracle and prespiracular pinaculum separate from the pronotum, the prosterna less fused, and the labrum bearing only three pairs of epipharyngeal spines (Davis and Robinson, 1999; Davis, 2000a). The prothoracic spiracle of Arrhenophanes is oriented vertically, whereas that of Psychidae (Davis, 1987) lies more in a horizontal plane (with few exceptions). The basal outgroup for Psychidae + Arrhenophanidae is uncertain, although most likely it occurs within the Tineidae.
Trusted
Systematic and taxonomic history
Since the family`s inception, authors have usually considered Arrhenophanidae to be closely associated, or even grouped (Robinson, 1988), with Psychidae. The development of a furcal bridge, formed by the fusion of the metafurca to the secondary furcal arms, constitutes an important synapomorphy found in the adult thorax of both families (Robinson, 1988; Davis and Robinson, 1999). Larvae of both families construct cases, although those of Psychidae tend to be more portable, with psychid larvae demonstrating certain specializations (e.g., prolegs directed more forward and thorax - particularly the pronotum and sterna - with greater fusion) for stronger mobility. The larvae of some Tineidae, as well as a few non tineoid families, also construct portable cases. Prior to pupation, arrhenophanid larvae invert their position inside the case with their head directed toward the posterior end. Similar behavior occurs in nearly all Psychidae (Davis, 2000b) and in certain other families where the larval case is suspended for pupation. Three possible autapomorphies serve to distinguish adult Arrhenophanidae: 1) the unusual prolongation of the caudal margin and sterigma of the eighth sternum, usually associated with the separation of the lamella postvaginalis from the eighth segment; 2) a pair of short, triangular apophyses from the anterio-lateral corners of the male eighth sternum; and 3) the development in the males of a thickened, usually sclerotized anellus, typically fused to the transtilla and base of the valvae. The female ostium and lamella postvaginalis (when present)in Psychidae arise flush with the eighth segment; apophyses are lacking from the eighth sternum of most species, and the anellus is membranous. Psychidae, which are primarily characterized by more specialized larvae, may be derived from Arrhenophanidae. What little is known of the arrhenophanid larva indicates it to be more generalized, with the prothoracic spiracle and prespiracular pinaculum separate from the pronotum, the prosterna less fused, and the labrum bearing only three pairs of epipharyngeal spines (Davis and Robinson, 1999; Davis, 2000a). The prothoracic spiracle of Arrhenophanes is oriented vertically, whereas that of Psychidae (Davis, 1987) lies more in a horizontal plane (with few exceptions). The basal outgroup for Psychidae + Arrhenophanidae is uncertain, although most likely it occurs within the Tineidae.
Trusted
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Barcode
Locations of barcode samples
Trusted
Statistics of barcoding coverage
| Specimen Records: | 9 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 8 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 8 |
| Public Records: | 1 |
| Species: | 1 |
| Species With Barcodes: | 1 |
Trusted
Wikipedia
Arrhenophanidae
Arrhenophanidae is a family of moths in the Lepidoptera order.
Genera
The genus Parameristis with the species Parameristis eremaea is now considered to be a Psychidae species in the genus Lamyristis.
Unreviewed
Disclaimer
EOL content is automatically assembled from many different content providers. As a result, from time to time you may find pages on EOL that are confusing.
To request an improvement, please leave a comment on the page. Thank you!



