Neopseustina

Definition

An infraorder of primitive moths (Lepidoptera) containing the single superfamily Neopseustoidea and family Neopseustidae. Members are colloquially called "archaic bell moths" and are restricted to South America and Southeast Asia; their biology remains largely unknown.

Etymology

Example

The infraorder Neopseustina represents one of the earliest-diverging lineages of glossatan moths, with all four known genera exhibiting relictual distributions on opposite sides of the Pacific.

Related Terms

• Neopseustoidea
• Neopseustidae
• Lepidoptera
• Glossata
• infraorder
• relict distribution

Usage Notes

Neopseustina is a monotypic infraorder; all living species are placed in the single family Neopseustidae. The term is used primarily in lepidopteran systematics when discussing basal divergences within the order. Contrast with the much larger infraorder Heteroneura, which contains the vast majority of moth species.