Urodidae


Urodidae, whose species are commonly known as false burnet moths, is a family of moths in the lepidopteran order. It is the type genus in the superfamily, Urodoidea, with three genera, one of which, Wockia, occurs in Europe.

Taxonomy and systematics

Urodidae were previously included in the superfamily Yponomeutoidea and have also been lumped with Galacticidae or with other Sesioidea. They belong to the lower part of the lepidopteran clade "Apoditrysia" , but their closest relatives are as yet unknown and it is hoped that DNA sequencing can help resolve this question.
Urodidae was formerly the only family in the superfamily Urodoidea, but in 2020 a new family was described within Urodoidea, Ustyurtiidae'''.'''

Morphology and identification

Urodidae resemble some Zygaenidae: Procridinae at rest. These small to medium-sized moths measure 11 to 37 mm in wingspan and often have a greyish or mottled forewing background colour. The male adult has a "hairpencil" on the costa of the hindwing. In the caterpillar, the placement of the setae and structure of the prolegs is diagnostic, and the pupal segments I–II are fixed. On the head, there are no ocelli or "chaetosemata" and the proboscis even at the base is unscaled. An "epiphysis" is present on the foreleg.

Distribution

The genera Urodus and Spiladarcha occur in the Neotropics while Wockia asperipunctella occurs in Europe and has recently been found in northern North America and unless this is a recent invasion the species would be a good example of a Holarctic distribution pattern.

Biology and host plants

The biology is poorly known, but the larvae can be found on various tree species including some fruit trees. The "bumelia webworm moth" is recorded on Lauraceae:, Fagaceae, Sapotaceae and Erythroxylaceae: Erythroxylum. Urodus parvula has also been reared on Rutaceae and Malvaceae. W. asperipunctella has in North America been reared from quaking aspen and also Salix in Europe. The pupa is contained in an open-mesh cocoon, which can be bright orange in colour, and is sometimes suspended on a very long thread below a leaf.

Species

The following is a list of selected species: