Family NOCTUIDAE
Introduction
[Modified after E.D. Edwards 1996: 291]
The subfamily classification of the Noctuidae is widely known to be unsatisfactory. Kitching (1984) discussed many of the classifications proposed and concluded that there were many major problems still to be solved. Apart from simple adjustments such as amalgamating Hampson's subfamilies Catacalinae and Ophiderinae, recent proposals have suffered from the problem of being regionally based. Much work has been done on the North American fauna but applying this to other parts of the world involves major revision of the noctuid fauna of these parts and in the case of Australia this has not been done. Overseas work is in progress at present which will drastically change the classification of our Noctuidae if and when it can be applied to the Australian fauna. Because so little work has been done on the Australian fauna there is no alternative but to use a modified Hampsonian classification until such time as a newer classification is available and can be extended to the Australian fauna.
Holloway (2011) brings the Noctuoidea classification up to date for the Bornean species and some Australian genera may be fitted into this. Many others remain whose true affinities are in doubt (Edwards, pers. comm. 2012).
Australia has a large and rich fauna of Noctuidae although they are not as dominant here as in some regions because of the rich development of other groups of moths. Quadrifine groups are well developed compared to the Palaearctic or Nearctic Regions yet there is also a development of the trifine groups. The genus Proteuxoa Hampson represents a parallel development to Euxoa Hübner in the Nearctic but in a different subfamily. Many large elements of the fauna have close relationships with the fauna of South-East Asia at the generic level and often at the species level. These are not confined to the rainforests as in many other groups but extend extensively into the dry tropical habitats occupying most of northern Australia. There are also many close relationships with the New Guinea fauna. On the other hand there are many large endemic genera and the relationship between these and faunas overseas is not yet clear. In particular the small development of Hadeninae in southern Australia appears unrelated to the development in New Zealand. Given the great mobility of some Noctuidae (quite a few species reach New Zealand from Australia regularly and in numbers) it is remarkable that the endemic faunas have so little in common.
The Noctuidae litereature is dominated by Hampson's series of volumes, Hampson (1898-1926), which was never completed. Volume 11 of Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World covered the section of the Indoaustralian fauna that had been revised by Hampson. Poole (1989) provided a most useful modern world catalogue of the species. Poole's list was prepared from the literature. The Checklist of Nielsen et al. (1996), following the examination of types, differed from Pool in some areas but his volumes were of invaluable assistance in its preparation.
Rivulinae. This subfamily was discussed by Kitching (1984) who concluded that there were no good characters to justify its separation. It has, nevertheless, often been treated as a subfamily. Only Rivula Guenée is included here.
Hypeninae. This subfamily was separated in the North American fauna by Forbes (1954) but the characterisation is weak. Forbes defined it primarily on the absence of an ocellus. A few Australian genera fit Forbes' characterisation and they are included here. Australia has a large hypenine fauna in great need of revision.
Catocalinae (= Ophiderinae). This subfamily includes the Ophiderinae as well as the Catocalinae of Hampson. The world fauna was dealt with by Hampson (1913a, 1913b) but apart from the description of numerous species (Hampson 1926) the bulk of the Catocalinae volumes were never published. Turner (1920b) did not deal with the Australian fauna of the noctuid groups that Hampson had not finished. Gaede (1938) in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World reviewed a few genera but this section was not completed. The Catocalinae of Australia have never been revised. This is an enormous group and the task of listing the species in the Checklist of Nielsen et al. (1996) was greatly aided by Turner's unpublished list and an unpublished list prepared by W.W. Brandt for the Australian and New Guinea fauna. The task was also much facilitated by Poole (1989). Some regional works are also useful, in particular Robinson (1975) and Holloway (1977, 1979).
Revisions of genera have appeared, Bänziger (1983) for Calyptra Ochsenheimer and closely related genera, Holloway [1983] for Nagia Walker, and Edwards (1978) for Australian Achaea Hübner.
The Australian Catocalinae are most diverse in the north but there are many endemic genera and some found only in the south. The fruit piercing moths can cause considerable economic losses and a few other species are important pests of crops.
Stictopterinae. The world fauna was revised by Hampson (1912) and the Indoaustralian species were reviewed by Gaede (1937c) in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Australian species were revised by Turner (1920b). Holloway described many species in Lephoptera Guenée but did not solve the problems with this genus in Australia.
Australia has about 16 species and all are found in tropical or subtropical areas.
Euteliinae. The world fauna was revised by Hampson (1912) and the Indoaustralian fauna reviewed by Gaede (1937b) in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Australian species were revised by Turner (1920b). Holloway (1985) reviewed the fauna of Borneo with which Australia has some genera and species in common.
Australia has 19 described species and most occur in tropical environments. All the genera occur widely overseas except for Pataeta Walker which is found in Australia and New Guinea. Penicillaria jocosatrix Guenée is a pest of mango and Chlumetia euthysticha Turner has also been found on mango.
Chloephorinae. The world fauna was revised by Hampson (1912) (as Acontiinae) and reviewed in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World by Gaede (1937-1938). The Australian species were revised by Turner (1920b). This group, which is very closely related to the Sarrothripinae, is well represented in Australia but most of the genera occur beyond Australia. Earias huegeliana Gaede is the rough bollworm of cotton.
Sarrothripinae. The world fauna was revised by Hampson (1912) and treated in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World by Gaede (1937d). The Australian species were revised by Turner (1920b). Australia has a considerable fauna and some species are very plentiful. Because of their drab appearance they are poorly known and much work is needed on them. Nearly all the Australian species occur in the north of the continent.
Nolinae. The Nolinae have sometimes been treated as a family. They were considered as a subfamily of the Arctiidae when revised by Hampson (1900) and were so listed by Strand (1920) in Lepidopterorum Catalogus. The Indoaustralian species were reviewed by Seitz (1913) in Macrolepidoptera of the World also as a subfamily of the Arctiidae. Turner (1944c) revised the Australian species as a separate family.
Australia has many species which are very poorly known and many species are still to be described. Many are placed in the very wide ranging genus Nola Leach but this may change with further studies. Species are known from throughout the continent, some associated with Eucalyptus in arid environments and others from alpine Tasmania while the northern rainforests have some species and genera found in New Guinea. Larvae of Uraba lugens Walker occur widely, can damage Eucalyptus, and are capable of causing skin rashes in humans.
Acontiinae. These are the Erastriinae of Hampson (1910b), Warren (1913), who reviewed the group (as Erastrinae) in the Indoaustralian region for Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World, and Turner (1920b) and should not be confused with the Acontiinae of these authors (now the Chloephorinae). There are many species of Acontiinae in Australia and they are very poorly studied. Some very early names, Tortrix apicana Donovan, 1805 and Micra inconspicua Walker, 1865, probably belong in the subfamily but are unidentified. Heterota Warren, the larvae of which feed on dead leaves and litter in spider webs, and Mataeomoera Butler, members of which are predators of scale insects, are two genera with unusual biologies.
Agaristinae. These have often been treated as a separate family. However, they are very close to the Amphipyrinae but have enlarged tympanal organs and are mostly day flying. Hampson (1901) revised part of the group (as Arctiidae) and the remainder in Hampson (1910a) (as part of the Amphipyrinae). The world species were listed by Strand (1912) in Lepidopterorum Catalogus as a subfamily of the Noctuidae. The Indoaustralian species were revised as a separate family by Jordan (1912) in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Australian fauna was revised by Turner (1920b) as a subfamily, Kiriakoff (1977) revised the Agaristinae as a family but, although this was a recent publication, he left many problems unresolved.
The Agaristinae are well represented in Australia. All species are contrastingly coloured. Some genera are endemic (Hecatesia Boisduval, Cremenophora Hampson, Phalaenoides Lewin) but some occur more widely in New Guinea and beyond. Adults of Hecatesia Boisduval and Platagarsia Jordan are well known for the ability of the males to produce sounds. Phalaenoides glycinae Lewin is a pest of grape vines.
Acronictinae + Amphipyrinae. The Acronictinae and the Amphipyrinae were treated together by Nielsen et al. (1996). The Acronictinae are distinguished by the larvae possessing secondary setae but, as the larvae of few Australian species are known, they cannot be separated reliably. Holloway (1989) placed the Australian genera Acronicta Ochsenheimer, Craniophora Snellen, Thalatha Walker and Platyprosopa Warren in the Acronictinae. The vast majority of Australian genera belong in the Amphipyrinae. The Acronictinae were revised (as Amphipyrinae) by Hampson (1908, 1909, 1910a) and were treated in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World by Warren (1912-1913) and the Amphipyrinae by Warren (1913b, 1914a, 1937) although Neumichtis Hampson was treated in the Cuculliinae. Turner (1920b) revised the Australian species. Many of the genera covered by Holloway (1989) in Borneo also occur in northern Australia.
Australia has a rich fauna and the subfamily occurs throughout the continent. The genus Proteuxoa Hampson is particularly speciose in southern Australia. The genus Spodoptera Guenée contains several pest species.
Cuculliinae. Only the species Neogalea sunia Guenée, introduced for the biological control of Lantana, is placed in the Cuculliinae.
Hadeninae. The Hadeninae of the world were revised Hampson (1905) and the Indoaustralian species in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World by Warren (1912-13b). The Australian species were revised by Turner (1920b) (as Maelanchrinae). Many of the genera in northern Australia occur widely overseas and so Calora (1966) on the Philippine species of Mythimna Ochsenheimer and Holloway (1989) on the Borneo species are useful publications. Small groups in Australia have been revised by Common (1965a) (Mythimna (Pseudaletia Franclemont)) and Edwards (1992) (Leucania (Acantholeucania Rungs)).
Australia has a small fauna of Hadeninae including a distinct northern element with genera shared widely overseas and a southern element of endemic genera. Several species are pests of crops, Persectania ewingii (Westwood), Mythimna convecta (Walker) and Leucania stenographa Lower, amongst others.
Noctuinae. The Noctuinae of the world were revised (as Agrotinae) by Hampson (1903) and the Indoaustralian fauna was treated in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World by Warren (1912b) (as Exuoinae). The Australian species were revised as Agrotinae by Turner (1920b) and the genus Agrotis Ochsenheimer was revised by Common (1958a).
Australia has a small fauna. The genus Buciara Walker is endemic and Ectopatria Hampson is shared with New Zealand, but the other genera are widespread. Some species of Agrotis Ochsenheimer are pests of crops and the migration and aestivation of the bogong moth, Agrotis infusa (Boisduval), is well known (Common 1954b; Flood 1980).
Stiriinae. This subfamily was separated by Hogue (1963) and is discussed by Matthews (1991). Austrazenia Warren is the only Australian genus currently included. The two species occur in arid tropical habitats.
Heliothinae. The species were revised by Hampson (1903) as part of his Agrotinae. The Indoaustralian representatives were reviewed in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World by Warren (1913d) (as Melicleptriinae). Turner (1920b) revised the Australian species as part of his Agrotinae. The Australian species of what was then Heliothis Ochsenheimer were thoroughly revised by Common (1953) and an additional species added by Common (1985). Important papers were published by Hardwick (1965, 1970) on the North American fauna and another important contribution was made by Matthews (1991) reviewing the genera of the world. Matthews (1999) published a detailed revision of the Australian Heliothinae.
Australia has a small fauna with all the genera also occurring outside Australia. The genus Helicoverpa Hardwick contains important pests of crops.
General References
Bänziger, H. 1983. A taxonomic revision of the fruit-piercing and blood-sucking moth genus Calyptra Ochsenheimer [=Calpe Treitschke] (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 14: 467-491
Calora, F.B. 1966. A revision of the species of the Leucania-complex occuring in the Philippines (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Hadeninae). Philippine Journal of Agriculture 50: 633-723
Common, I.F.B. 1953. The Australian species of Heliothis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and their pest status. Australian Journal of Zoology 1: 319-344, 1 pl
Common, I.F.B. 1954. A study of the ecology of the adult bogong moth, Agrotis infusa (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with special reference to its behaviour during migration and aestivation. Australian Journal of Zoology 2: 223-263, 4 pls
Common, I.F.B. 1958. The Australian cutworms of the genus Agrotis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 6: 69-88, 3 pls
Common, I.F.B. 1965. The identity and distribution of species of Pseudaletia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Australia. Journal of the Entomological Society of Queensland 4: 14-17
Common, I.F.B. 1985. A new Australian species of Heliothis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 24: 129-133
Edwards, E.D. 1978. A review of the genus Achaea Hübner in Australia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 17: 329-340
Edwards, E.D. 1992. A second sugarcane armyworm (Leucania loreyi (Duponchel)) from Australia and the identity of Leucania loreyimima Rungs (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 31: 105-108
Flood, J. 1980. The Moth Hunters. Aboriginal Prehistory of the Australian Alps. Canberra : Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies xii+388 pp.
Forbes, W.T.M. 1954. Lepidoptera of New York and neighboring states. Part 3. Noctuidae. Memoirs of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station 329: 1-433
Gaede, M. 1937. Eutelianae (Phloglophorinae). 352-365, pls 32-33 in Seitz, A. (ed.). The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Macrolepidoptera of the Indo-Australian Fauna. 11. Noctuiform Phalaenae. Stuttgart : Alfred Kernen Verlag
Gaede, M. 1937. Sarrothripinae. 384-415, pls 35-39 in Seitz, A. (ed.). The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Macrolepidoptera of the Indo-Australian Fauna. 11. Noctuiform Phalaenae. Stuttgart : Alfred Kernen Verlag
Gaede, M. 1937. Stictopterinae (Odontodinae). 366-383, pls 33-35 in Seitz, A. (ed.). The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Macrolepidoptera of the Indo-Australian Fauna. 11. Noctuiform Phalaenae. Stuttgart : Alfred Kernen Verlag
Gaede, M. 1938. Acontiinae. 416-453, pls 39-43 in Seitz, A. (ed.). The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Macrolepidoptera of the Indo-Australian Fauna. 11. Noctuiform Phalaenae. Stuttgart : Alfred Kernen Verlag
Gaede, M. 1938. Catocalinae. 454-488, pls 44-56 in Seitz, A. (ed.). The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Macrolepidoptera of the Indo-Australian Fauna. 11. Noctuiform Phalaenae. Stuttgart : Alfred Kernen Verlag
Hampson, G.F. 1900. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Arctiadae (Nolinae, Lithosianae) in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 2 xx 589 pp.
Hampson, G.F. 1901. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Arctiadae (Arctianae) and Agaristidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3 xix 690 pp., 1 folded page
Hampson, G.F. 1903. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 4 xx 689 pp.
Hampson, G.F. 1905. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 5 xvi 634 pp.
Hampson, G.F. 1908. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 7 xv 709 pp., 1 folded page
Hampson, G.F. 1909. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 8 xiv 583 pp., 1 folded page
Hampson, G.F. 1910. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 10 xix 829 pp., 1 folded page
Hampson, G.F. 1910. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 9 xv 552 pp., 1 folded page
Hampson, G.F. 1912. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 11 xvii 689 pp.
Hampson, G.F. 1913. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 12 xiii 626 pp., 1 folded page
Hampson, G.F. 1913. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 13 xiv 609 pp.
Hampson, G.F. 1926. Descriptions of New Genera and Species of Lepidoptera Phalaenae of the subfamily Noctuinae (Noctuidae) in the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum (Natural History) 641 pp.
Hardwick, D.F. 1965. The corn earworm complex. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 40: 1-247, 4 pls, 146 figs
Hardwick, D.F. 1970. A generic revision of the North American Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 73: 1-59
Hogue, C.L. 1963. A definition and classification of the tribe Stiriini (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Science Series. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 64: 1-129
Holloway, J.D. 1979. A survey of the Lepidoptera, biogeography and ecology of New Caledonia. Series Entomologica. The Hague : Dr W. Junk Vol. 15 xii+588 pp.
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