Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Dryadaulidae Bradley, 1966
Formerly a subfamily of Tineidae (Dryadaulinae). Given full family status by Regier et al. (2014)
(1)Explanation of Names
"Adults of
D. terpsichorella are sometimes referred to as dancing moths (Swezey, 1909; Lee et al., 2014), because of the dance-like gyrations they often display after alighting on a leaf"
(1).
Numbers
Two species in one genus in our area.
(2) There are numerous undescribed species.
Size
"Small moths with wingspans ∼7–13 mm"
(1).
Identification
"Forewings slender, with moderately broad, subacute apices. Venation of hindwing reduced, M3 absent. Male genitalia typically with asymmetrical valvae. Female oviscapt greatly reduced in length; anterior apophyses usually absent, or greatly reduced ... Diagnostic features for the family include the spatulate apical segment of the labial palpi and certain specializations of wing structure, such as the relatively long, narrow male retinaculum and the loss of an M vein (M1 fused with 2) in the hindwing"
(1).
Food
"It is believed that the larvae of most species are general detritivores or feed on lichens and fungi, habits that also are typical of many Tineidae"
(1).
Life Cycle
"Little is known about the biology and immature stages of Dryadaulidae. ... Much of what is known about the biology of
Dryadaula was reviewed by Zimmerman (1978) from previous reports by Swezey (1909) on the life history of the Hawaiian
Dryadaula terpsichorella (Busck)"
(1).
Print References
Lee, G.-E., Hayden, J. & Kawahara, A.Y. (2014) External egg morphology of the Hawaiian Dancing Moth, Dryadaula terpsichorella. Journal of Natural History, 48, 969–974.
Swezey, O.H. (1909) The Hawaiian sugar cane Bud Moth (Ereunetis flavistriata) with an account of some allied species and natural enemies. Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association Experiment Station Entomological Bulletin, 6, 1–40.
Zimmerman, E.C. (1978) Microlepidoptera. Part 1. Monotrysia, Tineoidea, Gracillarioidea, Yponomeutoidea, and Alucitoidea. Insects of Hawaii, 9, 1–881.
