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African maiden moths, family Thyretidae, include 212 species, all African. The classification remains controversial and various specialists also place the group within Arctiidae. The family is in the superfamily Noctuoidea, in the section Cossina, subsection Bombycina, of the division Ditrysia. Adults medium-size (23–57 mm wingspan). Haustellum usually reduced or vestigial; antennae pectinate; wings very elongated, with reduced hindwings (some with greatly reduced hindwings). Maculation typically dark with white or hyaline patches, or more colorful. Adults perhaps mostly diurnal; often wasp mimics. Larvae are thought to be leaf feeders, but most species remain unknown biologically. Host plant records include Thymelaeaceae and Ulmaceae, for the few species known biologically.
References
Janse AJT (1945) On the South African species of Metarctia, with the description of a new species. J Entomol Soc South Africa 8:91–98
Kiriakoff SG (1949) Over de phylogenie van de Thyretidae fam. nov. (Lepidoptera). Natuurwetenschappen Tijdschrift 30:3–10
Kiriakoff SG (1953) Les Thyretidae du Musée Royal du Congo Belge (Lepidoptera Notodontidae). Annales du Musée Royal du Congo Belge, Sciences Zoologiques (8) 26:1–91
Kiriakoff SG (1957) Notes sur les Thyretidae (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae). Bulletin et Annales de la Société Royale Entomologique de Belgique 93:121–160
Kiriakoff SG (1960) Lepidoptera. Fam. Thyretidae. In: Genera Insectorum. Brussels, 214:1–66
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Heppner, J.B. (2008). African Maiden Moths (Lepidoptera: Thyretidae). In: Capinera, J.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_96
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_96
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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