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Saturniidae, members of which are common name the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and giant silk moths (or wild silk moths).
Adults are characterized by large, lobed insect wing, heavy bodies covered in hair-like scales, and reduced mouthparts. They lack a wing coupling, but the hindwings overlap the forewings to produce the effect of an unbroken wing surface. Saturniids are sometimes brightly colored and often have translucent eyespots or "windows" on their wings. Sexual dimorphism varies by species, but males can generally be distinguished by their larger, broader antennae.
Most adults have between , but some tropical species such as the Atlas moth ( Attacus atlas) may have wingspans up to . Together with certain Noctuidae, Saturniidae contains the largest Lepidoptera and some of the largest neontology .
Most are solitary feeders, but some are gregarious. The Hemileucinae are gregarious when young and have stinging hairs, and those of Lonomia contain a poison that may kill a human. Arsenura armida is another well-known example and is infamous for its large conspicuous masses during the day. Their coloration is not cryptic, instead exhibiting aposematism.
The other caterpillars in this size range are almost universally Sphingidae, which are seldom hairy and tend to have diagonal stripes on their sides. Many Sphingidae caterpillars bear a single curved horn on their hind end. These are actually not dangerous, but large, hairy caterpillars should generally not be touched except by experts.
Most saturniid larvae feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs. A few, particularly Hemileucinae such as Automeris louisiana, A. patagonensis, and Hemileuca oliviae, feed on grasses. They ecdysis at regular intervals, usually four to six times before entering the pupal stage. Prior to pupation, a wandering stage occurs, and the caterpillar may change color, becoming more cryptic just before this stage.
Since the mouthparts of adult saturniids are vestigial and digestive tracts are absent, adults subsist on stored fat acquired during the stage. As such, adult behavior is devoted almost entirely to reproduction, but the end result (due to lack of feeding) is a lifespan of a week or less once emerged from the pupa.
One specific species in the family Saturniidae with a special mating pattern is Callosamia promethea (promethea silkmoth). Females will mate with multiple males and males will mate with multiple females (polygynandry). Females that mate with more than one male will produce 10% more eggs.
Other species are of major commercial importance in tussah and wild silk production. These notably include the Chinese tussah moth ( Antheraea pernyi), its hybridogenic descendant Antheraea × proylei, and the ailanthus silkmoth ( Samia cynthia). Mopane worm ( Gonimbrasia belina), Gonimbrasia zambesina, the cabbage tree emperor moth ( Bunaea alcinoe), Gynanisa maja, Imbrasia epimethea, Imbrasia oyemensis, Melanocera menippe, Microgone cana, Urota sinope and the pallid emperor moth ( Cirina forda).
Some species of Saturniidae such as the mopane worm ( Gonimbrasia belina) are used as a food source.Chavunduka, D.M. 1975. Insects as a source of protein to the African. Rhodesia Science News 9: 217-220. (Quoted in ch.13 DeF 2003)
Most Saturniidae are harmless animals at least as adults, and in many cases at all stages of their lives. Thus, some of the more spectacular species – in particular Antheraea – can be raised by children or school classes as educational pets. The soft, silken cocoons make an interesting keepsake for pupils.
Some, including the genus Automeris, have urticating spines that sting.
Caterpillars of the genus Lonomia produce a deadly toxin injected into the victim when it is touched.
The following list arranges the subfamilies in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, from the most ancient to the most advanced.
Pupae
Most larvae spin a silken cocoon in the leaves of a preferred host plant or in leaf litter on the ground, or crevices in rocks and logs. While only moderately close relatives to the silkworm ( Bombyx mori) among the Lepidoptera, the cocoons of larger saturniids can be gathered and used to make silk fabric. However, larvae of some species – typically Ceratocampinae, like the regal moth ( Citheronia regalis) and the imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis), burrow and pupate in a small chamber beneath the soil. This is common in the Ceratocampinae and Hemileucinae. Unlike most silk moths, those that pupate underground do not use much silk in the construction. Once enclosed in the cocoon, the caterpillar sheds the larval skin and becomes a pupa, and the pupa undergoes metamorphosis for about 14 days, at which point it either emerges or goes into diapause. During metamorphosis, the respiratory system will stay intact, the digestive system will dissolve, and reproductive organs will take form.
Adults
Adult females emerge with a complete set of mature Ovum and "call" males by emitting pheromones (specific "calling" times vary by species). Males can detect these chemical signals up to a mile away with help from sensitive receptors located on the tips of their feather-like antennae. The males fly several miles in one night to locate a female and mate with her; females generally will not fly until after they have mated.
Importance to humans
A few species are important defoliator pests, including the orange-striped oakworm moth ( Anisota senatoria) on , the pandora pinemoth ( Coloradia pandora) on and Hemileuca oliviae on range .
(2025). 9789251075968, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . ISBN 9789251075968 "Food Insects Newsletter" "Food Insects"
Systematics and evolution
In terms of absolute numbers of species, the Saturniidae are most diverse in the Neotropics. Also, their most ancient subfamilies occur only in the Americas. Only the very "modern" Saturniidae are widely distributed across most parts of the world. Thus, it is quite safe to assume – even in the absence of a comprehensive fossil record – that the first Saturniidae originated in the Neotropical region. Note that at least two of the subfamilies included below are commonly treated as separate families (Oxyteninae and Cercophaninae).
See also
Bibliography
Further reading
External links
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