Lacturidae

Definition

A pantropical family of moths in the superfamily Zygaenoidea, commonly called tropical burnet moths. Adults are typically small to medium-sized with bright, often aposematic coloration. Larvae are leaf miners or external feeders on various host plants. The family was historically misplaced in Plutellidae, Yponomeutidae, and Hyponomeutidae before molecular and morphological studies established its current position.

Etymology

From the type genus Lactura (etymology uncertain), with the family suffix -idae.

Example

The genus Lactura includes species with striking orange-and-black wing patterns that function as warning coloration against vertebrate predators.

Synonyms

• tropical burnet moths

Related Terms

• Zygaenoidea
• Lepidoptera
• Zygaenidae
• Plutellidae
• aposematic coloration
• leaf miner

Usage Notes

Use Lacturidae for the family in formal taxonomic contexts; 'tropical burnet moths' is the established common name. Distinguished from the related Zygaenidae (burnet moths, forester moths) by larval biology and adult morphology. The family's pantropical distribution is unusual among Zygaenoidea, which are predominantly temperate.