PTEROPHORIDAE of Australia
Plume Moths
PTEROPHORIOIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
and
Debbie Matthews Lott & Stella Crossley

(updated 24 January 2008)

The PTEROPHORIDAE, commonly known as Plume Moths, are a well known and easily recognized family. The world fauna is composed of nearly a thousand species in 92 genera. Most species have the wings divided into narrow lobes that resemble feathers or "plumes" because of the long fringe scales along the lobe margins.

Scanning Electron Microscope image of hind wing mid-lobe of a Pterophorid moth,
showing fringe scales and double row of specialized "venous scales"
on undersurface.

The fore wing is usually divided into 2 lobes (3 or 4 in a few), the hind wing into 3. Two genera, Agdistis and Ochyrotica have entire wings. Most adults rest with the wings folded or rolled, held perpendicular to the slender body in the characteristic "T"-shaped position. A few rest with the wings tilted back or slightly back and upward in more of a "Y".

The family ALUCITIDAE (Many-Plumed Moths) is often associated with the PTEROPHORIDAE in monographs and popular literature but is easy to distinguish because of the extra lobes of the hind wing and because these moths hold the wings unfolded and flattened against the resting surface.

The PTEROPHORIDAE are distinct from other families in Alucitoidea (eg: ALUCITIDAE , and TINEODIDAE ) and Pterophoroidea (eg: MACROPIRATIDAE ) in having rows of stout, sclerotized scales on the undersurface of the hind wing along veins Cu2 and M3. These scales have been termed "venous scales" (Gielis 1993).

Caterpillars of the external feeders tend to have long primary hairs (setae) and either numerous short, scattered, secondary setae, or longer secondary setae radiating from tubercles. In some genera the primary setae are morphologically distinct and central on these tubercles. Setal morphology is often elaborate, a variety of forms occur in the group. These including setae with spiculate margins, setae with blunt, inflated, capitate, spatulate, tined or conspicuously forked tips, or flattened ovate to discoid setae, as well as simple pointed setae. Inflated, or hollow, open-tipped setae often exude a viscous, sticky fluid which accumulates in a droplet at the end of the seta. The chemical properties of this material are unknown but species with this type of setae tend to be associated with hosts with glandular trichomes. The translucent Caterpillar skin (larval cuticle) shows the color of ingested plant material, enhancing the cryptic effect of the setae. Opaque longitudinal stripes are present in some species, and some have a contrasting middorsal stripe.

Internal feeding species tend to be cream colored, some with reddish longitudinal bands and/or sclerotized pinacula. The internal feeders have shorter primary setae and either lack secondary setae, or have the short to minute scattered type. Granulate patterns may be present on the cuticle and a few of the stem borers have a sclerotized caudal peg or paired thorn-like projections. Except for the stem borers, larvae tend to be sluggish. The prolegs of most are elongate and peg-like. Crochets are arranged in a uniordinal, mesal penellipse.

The chrysalis (pupa) is usually attached to the host plant. A small pad of silk is spun in which the pupa is anchored by two patches of hooked setae arising from the tenth abdominal segment. Internally feeding species typically lack or have reduced numbers of hooked setae unless they are species which leave the feeding site for pupation. A few species spin thin, open topped cocoons within the feeding site, or web together a shelter of leaves or plant debris in which to pupate.

The pupal setal arrangement and morphology is typically a reduced version of the mature larva. Pupae of external feeders often have long primary setae, some also with secondary setae variously arranged, forming lateral fringes in some. Seta or spine-like tubercles may be present in association with the primary setae. Several genera have paired dorsal tubercles which are especially developed on the third abdominal segment, forming single, or multiple pointed processes or flattened foliaceous appendages. Some pupae are smooth, or ridged, with all setae primary and short. Smooth pupae are common in internal feeders, but also found in certain genera of external feeders.

The 41 named Australian species of PTEROPHORIDAE are:

Platyptilia celidotus
Platyptilia emissalis

Stenoptilia leuconephes
Stenoptilia phaeonephes
Stenoptilia zophodactylus

Stenoptilodes taprobanes

Tetraschalis arachnodes

Trichoptilus ceramodes
Trichoptilus inclitus