Subfamily Herminiinae - Litter Moths

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Food · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

Dark-spotted Palthis - Palthis angulalis

Erebidae, Litter Moth larva, lateral - Zanclognatha cruralis

Dead leaf feeder, Quercus - Zanclognatha jacchusalis

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Erebidae

Subfamily Herminiinae (Litter Moths)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Formerly placed in family Noctuidae.

Explanation of Names

Herminiinae from the type genus Herminia (Latreille). The gens Herminia was an ancient patrician house at Rome. (1)

Food

Larvae: "A wide range of organic matter that includes living foliage, epiphytic growth, senescent leaves, flowers, and fruit as well as fallen leaves." (2)

See Also

Some species in subfamily Phytometrinae are similar, e.g.:

Some species in Tetanolita are similar to some species of Renia. See Print References below which contains descriptions of both genera. The third labial palpi segment is much shorter than the second in Renia.

Print References

Lafontaine J.D., and B.C. Schmidt 2010. Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America North of Mexico. (3)

Smith, J. B., 1895. Contributions Toward A Monograph Of The Insects Of The Lepidopterous Family Noctuidae Of Boreal North America. A Revision Of The Deltoid Moths. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 48 (4)

Works Cited

1.	An accentuated list of the British Lepidoptera, with hints on the derivation of the names. Anonymous. 1858. The Entomological Societies of Oxford and Cambridge.

2.	Caterpillars of Eastern North America David L. Wagner. 2005. Princeton University Press.

3.	Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. Donald J. Lafontaine, B. Christian Schmidt. 2010. ZooKeys 40: 1–239 .

4.	Contributions toward a monograph of the insects of the Lepidopterous family Noctuidae of boreal North America a ... John B. Smith. 1895. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 48: 1-129.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 6 March, 2005 - 1:42am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Steve Nanz, Maury Heiman, ceiseman, Randy Hardy
Last updated 10 April, 2025 - 12:13pm

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