Fruit-piercing Moths
Calpinae
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Superfamily: Noctuoidea
- Family: Erebidae
- Subfamily: Calpinae
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Calpinae: /kælˈpɪniː/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Calpinae is a subfamily of moths within the Erebidae family characterized by their unique feeding adaptations and large wingspans. Recent studies have redefined their classification in light of new phylogenetic evidence.
Physical Characteristics
Pointed and barbed proboscis adapted for piercing fruit skins to feed on juice; some species possess the ability to pierce mammal skin to feed on blood. Many species have a wingspan longer than 5 cm (2 in).
Identification Tips
Look for large moths with a distinctive pointed and barbed proboscis. The presence of feeding marks on fruit or mammal skins can indicate their presence.
Diet
Primarily frugivorous, feeding on the juices of fruits; some species are hematophagous, feeding on the blood of mammals.
Evolution
The Calpinae were previously classified within Noctuidae and have been reclassified into Erebidae based on phylogenetic studies that redefined the family.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Some calpine genera were previously thought to be part of the Catocalinae, leading to confusion in classification.
Tags
- Calpinae
- Fruit-piercing Moths
- Erebidae
- Lepidoptera