Litter-moths
Guides
Carteris
litter moths
Carteris is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Herminiinae, commonly referred to as litter moths. The genus was established by Paul Dognin in 1914. It contains at least two described species: Carteris lineata and Carteris oculatalis. Members of this genus are classified within the diverse noctuoid moth lineage.
Erebidae
Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths
Erebidae is among the largest families of moths by species count, encompassing diverse macromoth groups formerly classified across multiple families. The family includes underwings (Catocala), tiger moths and wasp moths (Arctiinae), tussock moths (Lymantriinae), litter moths (Herminiinae), fruit-piercing moths (Calpinae), and snout moths (Hypeninae). Adults range dramatically in size from 6 mm to over 300 mm wingspan. Coloration spans from cryptic browns and grays to vivid aposematic patterns. The family was reconstituted in 2010 through phylogenetic studies that revealed the former Noctuidae to be paraphyletic, with Arctiinae, Lymantriinae, and related lineages more closely related to each other than to core noctuids.
Herminiinae
Litter Moths
Herminiinae is a subfamily of moths in the family Erebidae, order Lepidoptera. Members are commonly called litter moths due to the feeding habits of their caterpillars. The subfamily was previously treated as a separate family (Herminiidae) or as a subfamily of Noctuidae, but phylogenetic analysis places it within Erebidae, most closely related to Aganainae.
Macrochilo
litter moths
Macrochilo is a genus of litter moths in the subfamily Herminiinae of family Erebidae. The genus was established by Jacob Hübner in 1825 and comprises approximately 13 species distributed across three continents. Species occur in North America, Europe, and Madagascar, with the greatest diversity in North America. The genus includes several species with established common names, such as the slant-lined owlet and dotted fan-foot.
Phalaenophana
litter moths
Phalaenophana is a genus of litter moths in the subfamily Hypeninae of the family Erebidae, established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. The genus contains approximately ten described species distributed across the Americas, with records from North America (including Vermont) and South America (Brazil, Ecuador, Chile). The most well-known species is Phalaenophana pyramusalis, commonly called the dark-banded owlet moth. Current taxonomic databases treat Phalaenophana as a synonym of Phaeolita, though it remains widely used in identification resources.
Renia
Renia Moths, Litter Moths
Renia is a genus of litter moths in the subfamily Herminiinae of the family Erebidae. The genus was established by Achille Guenée in 1854. Species within this genus are commonly referred to as renia moths or litter moths. The genus includes at least 13 described species, with several having common names based on distinctive markings or behaviors.
Zanclognatha
litter moths
Zanclognatha is a genus of litter moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Herminiinae. The genus was erected by Julius Lederer in 1857 and has experienced taxonomic instability, having been synonymized with Polypogon multiple times before current treatments generally recognize it as distinct. Species-level taxonomy remains problematic, with adult moths often difficult to distinguish using traditional characters. The genus contains approximately 25 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.