AN INTRODUCTION TO MICROLEPIDOPTERA

AN INTRODUCTION TO MICROLEPIDOPTERA:Phylogeny, Classification, Diversity, and Morphology(gag me with a spoon)

1General Remarks Microlepidoptera a category of convenience (not all are small).Approximately 30% of the order (described, that is).Majority of the fundamental developments or innovations characteristic of the order take place within Microlepidoptera.Phylogeny is poorly understood (but its getting better).

2Overview of PresentationBriefly summarize classification based on phylogeny from Kristensen (1998, 2007), with a few minor modifications.Briefly discuss major lineages and morphological developments that define them (from Zeugloptera to Obtectomera); focus on wings (venation and coupling), female reproductive system, and mouthparts. Major innovations in red!3

Kristensen 1998Handbook of ZoologyTwo more recent phylogenies based on large molecular data sets.

A new classification proposed based on those phylogenies and a few other published and unpublished studies.4

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70% of the species diversity25% of the familial diversity30% of the species diversity75% of the familial diversityBut first6Ordinal Phylogeny: HolometabolaMegalopteraDipteraMecopteraSiphonapteraNeuropteraColeopteraTrichopteraStrepsipteraHymenopteraRaphidiopteraLepidopteraHolometabolan AncestorAmphiesmenopteraAntliophoraMECOPTERIDA(panorpoid clade)

Trichoptera the caddisfliesFine hairs (rather than scales) on wingsWings with homoneurous venationMandibulate mouthpartsSimple reproductive track in femaleLarvae aquatic and usually case-making

8Lepidoptera butterflies and mothsScales on wingsHeteroneurous venationSucking mouthpartsDitrysian reproductive track in femaleLarvae usually terrestrial with crochets on abdominal prolegsEpiphysis on foreleg of adults

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10Micropterigidae (Zeugloptera)1 family with 121 described species

Tiny diurnal moths, 10 mm or less, resembling caddisflies

Fuzzy head

Metallic colored wings (with scales!)

Larvae feed on liverworts, decomposing angiosperms, and fungal hyphae

Adults have mandibles (!) and feed on spores and pollen

11Micropterigidae (Zeugloptera)1 family with 121 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing coupling

12Micropterigidae (Zeugloptera)1 family with 121 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingMonotrysian female reproductive system

13Micropterigidae (Zeugloptera)1 family with 121 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingMonotrysian female reproductive systemStrongly asymmetrical mandibles, short labial palpi

14Micropterigidae (Zeugloptera)1 family with 121 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingMonotrysian female reproductive systemStrongly asymmetrical mandibles, short labial palpiScaled wings!

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16Eriocraniidae (Glossata)1 family with 24 described species

Tiny moths, 10 mm or less

Fuzzy head

Metallic colored wings

Larvae are leaf-miners, primarily in Fagaceae

17Eriocraniidae (Glossata)1 family with 24 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing coupling

18Eriocraniidae (Glossata)1 family with 24 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingMonotrysian female reproductive system

19Eriocraniidae (Glossata)1 family with 24 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingMonotrysian female reproductive systemSucking mouthparts non-functional mandibles, galea forming proboscis!

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21Hepialoidea (Exoporia)5 families with ca. 500 described species

Wingspan up to 25 cm

Adults crepuscular/nocturnal

As many as 30,000 eggs broadcast by female in flight

22Hepialoidea (Exoporia)5 families with ca. 500 described speciesHomoneurous venation;; jugate wing coupling

23Hepialoidea (Exoporia)5 families with ca. 500 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingExoporian female reproductive system

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Hepialoidea (Exoporia)5 families with ca. 500 described speciesHomoneurous venation; jugate wing couplingExoporian female reproductive systemMouthparts reduced proboscis short or absent

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26Incurvarioidea (Heteroneura - Monotrysia)

5 families with ca. 410 described speciesHeliozelidae, Adelidae (fairy moths), Prodoxidae (yucca moths), Cecidosidae, Incurvariidae

Small to tiny moths, forewing length 1.7-16 mm

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5 families with ca. 410 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing coupling!

Incurvarioidea (Heteroneura - Monotrysia)28

Incurvarioidea (Heteroneura - Monotrysia)5 families with ca. 410 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing coupling!Monotrysian female reproductive system

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Incurvarioidea (Heteroneura - Monotrysia)5 families with ca. 410 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing coupling!Monotrysian female reproductive systemMouthparts reduced proboscis short or absent(but wild in yucca moths)

30Incurvariidae yucca moths

Yuccas and yucca moths a classic tale of mutualism31

32Tineiodea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)3 families with ca. 3,700 described speciesTineidae (clothes moths), Eriocottidae, Psychidae (bagworms).

The most primitive ditrysians

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Tineiodea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)3 families with ca. 3,700 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing coupling

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Tineiodea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)

3 families with ca. 3,700 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive system!

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Tineiodea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)

3 families with ca. 3,700 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive system!Mouthparts well developed proboscis reduced

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37Gracillarioidea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)

3 families with ca. 2,200 described species (mostly Gracillariidae)Heteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive systemMouthparts well developed; labial palpi often with lateral bristles (also present in Tineidae)

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39Yponomeutoidea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)10 families with ca. 1,735 described speciesClassification historically unstable:Yponomeutidae, Plutellidae, Ypsolophidae, Acrolepiidae, Glyphipterigidae, Argyresthiidae, Heliodinidae, Lyonetidae, Attevidae, Praydidae, Bedelliidae, LyonetiidaeA heterogenous assemblage of relatively primitive micros.Autapomorphy: pleural lobes just before genitalia posterior expansion of pleuron VIII

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Yponomeutoidea (Heteroneura - Ditrysia)

10 families with ca. 1,735 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive systemMouthparts well developed; labial palpi variable but always large and conspicuous

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42Gelechioidea (Heteroneura - Apoditrysia)21 families with ca. 18,500 described speciesClassification historically unstable:Gelechiidae, Elachistidae (Stenomatinae, Ethmiinae, Depressariinae, Agonoxeninae), Xyloryctidae (Scythridinae) Schistomeoidae, Oecophoridae (Stathmopodinae), Amphisbatidae, Lecithoceridae, Batrachedridae, Deocloniidae, Coleophoridae, Blastobasidae, Momphidae, Autostichidae (Symmocidae), Cosmopterigidae, others?

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Gelechioidea (Heteroneura - Apoditrysia)

21 families with ca. 18,500 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive systemMouthparts well developed; labial palpi large, upturned

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45Cossoidea (Heteroneura - Apoditrysia)7 families with ca. 2,870 described species

Cossidae, Brachodidae, Dudgeoneidae, Metarbelidae, Retardidae, Castniidae, Sesiidae

Wood-boring larvae (mostly)

46Cossoidea (Heteroneura - Apoditrysia)

7 families with ca. 2,870 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing coupling (retinaculo-frenate in Sesiidae)Ditrysian female reproductive systemMouthparts well developed

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48Tortricoidea (Apoditrysia)1 family with ca. 10,000 described speciesTwo major subfamilies previously considered families: OlethreutinaeTortricinaeMany economically important pests spruce bud worm, codling moth, light brown apple moth, European grape berry moth

49Tortricoidea (Apoditrysia)

1 family with ca. 10,000 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive systemMouthparts well developed

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51Zygaenoidea (Apoditrysia)12 families with ca. 2,700 described speciesSmall to medium sized fuzzy moths (Limacodidae, Megalopygidae, Dalceridae)Bizarre larvae (Limacodidae, Megalopygidae, Dalceridae)Many Zygaenidae are diurnalEpipyropidae are ectoparasites on Homoptera

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Zygaenoidea (Apoditrysia)

12 families with ca. 2,700 described speciesHeteroneurous venationFrenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive systemPalpi reduced, proboscis present

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54Pterophoroidea (Apoditrysia)1 family with ca. 1,000 described species

Characteristically incised wings

Long slender legs

Distinctive resting posture

55Pterophoridea (Apoditrysia)

1 family with ca. 1,000 described speciesHeteroneurous venation; frenate wing couplingDitrysian female reproductive systemLabial palpi variable in shape and vestiture

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70% of the species diversity25% of the familial diversity30% of the species diversity75% of the familial diversity57