Family Yponomeutidae - Ermine Moths

Classification · Explanation of Names · Print References · Works Cited

A moth from the sea-2 - Atteva punctella

Alianthus Webworm Moth- Hodges#2401 - Atteva punctella

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

No Taxon (Moths)

Superfamily Yponomeutoidea

Family Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)

Explanation of Names

Author of family is Stephens, 1829 (Wikipedia--Ermine moth). Named for genus Yponomeuta Latreille, 1796. That name was apparently a typographic error (!) for Hyponomeuta (1). That would be a combination of Greek prefix hypo under plus nomeuta (unknown?). Genus Hyponomeuta was apparently used as a name at a later date (Internet searches).

Common name ermine moths apparently refers to resemblance of some species in Yponomeuta (white with black dots) to the winter coat of the mammalian Ermine:

Print References

Lockwood, p. 152--discusses typographic origin of the family name Yponomeutidae (1)

Works Cited

1.	Locust: The Devastating Rise And Mysterious Disappearance Of The Insect That Shaped The American Frontier By Jeffrey A. Lockwood

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, john and jane balaban
Last updated 6 January, 2009 - 9:25am

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