Dyopsinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Dyopsinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dyopsinae: //daɪˈɔpsɪni//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Litoprosopus coachella by Rod. Used under a CC0 license.

Litoprosopus confligens by Gernot Kunz. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Litoprosopus futilis by Vijay Barve. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Dyopsinae is a subfamily of the Noctuidae family of moths, comprising 5 species in one genus within the area. The subfamily is part of the owlet moths, characterized by their diverse appearances and significant ecological roles as both herbivores and pollinators, yet some are notorious agricultural pests.

Physical Characteristics

Most noctuid adults have wings with a variety of shades of browns, grays, and other varied shades and colourations. Characterized by a structure in the metathorax called the nodular sclerite or epaulette, which functions to keep parasites out of the tympanal cavity. Markings present on the wings can include a claviform stigma, discal stigma, and reniform stigma, along with potential crossbands.

Identification Tips

Markings on wings can help distinguish species. The claviform stigma is club-shaped and oriented horizontally with the thicker end closer to the outer edge. The reniform stigma is kidney-shaped, oriented with its concave side facing the wing's outer edge, and crossbands may also be present.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan, found worldwide except in the Antarctic region. Some species found in Arctic Circle; 2,522 species in North America and northern Mexico, and 1,576 species in Europe.

Diet

Caterpillars feed on plants; some are known to feed on poisonous plants and are unaffected by their chemical defenses. Adults visit flowers for nectar and also seek other liquid food resources such as plant juices, honeydew, and mud.

Reproduction

Reproductive season typically spans from spring to fall; many are multivoltine while some are univoltine.

Ecosystem Role

Noctuids perform an important role in plant pollination and some have mutualistic relationships with host plants.

Economic Impact

Many species are considered agricultural pests, particularly their larvae, known as cutworms and armyworms, which can cause significant crop damage. The Old World bollworm is responsible for losses exceeding US$2 billion annually in agriculture.

Evolution

Dyopsinae was formerly placed in Erebidae but is now believed to be a basal lineage of the Noctuidae. DNA sequence results support the segregation of several groups in this classification.