A catalogue of Indian Arctiinae (Erebidae, Lepidoptera)
Author
Singh, Navneet
Author
Joshi, Rahul
Author
Kirti, Jagbir Singh
Author
Bisht, Santosh Singh
Author
Param, Harsimranjeet Singh
text
Zootaxa
2021
2021-10-27
5058
1
1
118
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.5058.1.1
1175-5326
5602576
7477B46C-8D54-450F-B9C1-03ED3130579D
Lithosiini
Diagnostic characters:
The
Lithosiini
moths are commonly called as lichen moths, because some are specialized in feeding on lichens. Adults are with rather narrow forewings and deep hindwings that may equal or exceed them in area. The monophyly of the
Lithosiini
is supported by larval mandibles with an enlarged, basal molar area associated with the specialized diet of lower plants; there is a characteristic arrangement of the larval labral setae; the eggs are smooth with shallow depressions, rather than sculpted with networks of ridges (Kitching & Rawling in
Kristensen 1999
,
Holloway
et al.
2001
).
Diversity and distribution:
Indian
Lithosiini
comprise 419 species and five subspecies under 128 genera. Of the 128 genera reported from
India
, 67 genera are represented by single species, 58 genera by two to 20 species and three genera,
Barsine
,
Cyana
, and
Miltochrista
are known by 21, 42, and 54 species respectively (
Fig.6
). In
India
,
Lithosiini
is most diverse in North-East
India
followed by Central Himalaya, East Himalaya, and West & North- West Himalaya. Only one species is reported from Desert and no
Lithosiini
are recorded from Trans-Himalaya (
Fig. 7
).
Food plants:
The larval diet is frequently algae and lichens, occasionally bryophytes, these being grazed on the surface of leaves, branches, tree trunks etc. that may lead to these higher plants being recorded erroneously as hosts. The cocoon can be dense or very large, net-like, incorporating larval setae (
Bendib & Minet 1999
[2000]).