Family Yponomeutidae - Ermine Moths

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Swammerdamia pyrella 2414 - Swammerdamia pyrella

i think its: Apple Ermine Moth - Hodges#2421.1 (Yponomeuta malinellus) - Yponomeuta

American Ermine Moth - Yponomeuta multipunctella

plaid caterpillar - Swammerdamia pyrella

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 Yponomeutoidea (Ermine Moths and kin)

Family Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Yponomeutidae Stephens, 1829 (Wikipedia--Ermine moth)

Explanation of Names

Family is 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, perhaps from Greek pno air; breathing, plus meuta?) (2). 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:

Life Cycle

Larvae are leaf-webbers, leaf skeletonizers, leafminers or needleminers

Overwinter as eggs on trees.(3)

Print References

Borror, entries for hypo, pno (2)

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

Internet References

Wikipedia

Works Cited

1.	Locust: The Devastating Rise And Mysterious Disappearance Of The Insect That Shaped The American Frontier Jeffrey A. Lockwood. 2004. Basic Books.

2.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.

3.	Hidden Company that Trees Keep: Life from Treetops to Root Tips James B. Nardi. 2023. Princeton University Press.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, john and jane balaban, Beatriz Moisset, Marci Hess
Last updated 23 September, 2023 - 9:58am

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