Saturniidae, members of which are commonly named the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths 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 wings, heavy bodies covered in hair-like scales, and reduced mouthparts. They lack a frenulum, 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 wingspans 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 extant insects.

Distribution

thumb|right|Marbled emperor moth ([[Heniocha dyops) in Botswana]]

The majority of saturniid species occur in wooded tropical or subtropical regions, with the greatest diversity in the New World tropics and Mexico, They are round, slightly flattened, smooth, and translucent or whitish.

Larvae

thumb|right|Citheronia laocoon fifth-instar caterpillar in Brazil

Saturniid caterpillars are large ( in the final instar), stout, and cylindrical. Most have tubercules that are often also spiny or hairy. Many are cryptic in coloration, with countershading or disruptive coloration to reduce detection, but some are more colorful. Some have urticating hairs.

Most are solitary feeders, but some are gregarious. The Hemileucinae are gregarious when young and have stinging hairs,

Importance to humans

right|200px|thumb|Typical example of Saturniidae camouflage, [[Eacles imperialis (imperial moth), next to a nearly identical yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) leaf]]

A few species are important defoliator pests, including the orange-striped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria) on oaks, the pandora pinemoth (Coloradia pandora) on pines and Hemileuca oliviae on range grasses.

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 maia, 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.

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.

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).

The following list arranges the subfamilies in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, from oldest to newest.

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  • Subfamily Oxyteninae (3 genera, 35 species)
  • Subfamily Cercophaninae (4 genera, 10 species)
  • Subfamily Arsenurinae (10 genera, 60 species, Neotropics)
  • Subfamily Ceratocampinae (27 genera, 170 species, Americas)
  • Subfamily Hemileucinae (51 genera, 630 species, Americas)
  • Subfamily Agliinae (1 genus, 3 species)
  • Subfamily Ludiinae <small>(disputed)</small> (8 genera, Africa)
  • Subfamily Salassinae (1 genus, 12 species, tropics)
  • Subfamily Saturniinae (59 genera, 480 species, tropical and temperate regions worldwide)

thumb|right|upright|Giant Peacock Moth On [[Arum by Vincent van Gogh, 1889. A painting with Saturnia pyri, a saturniid moth, as motif.]]

See also

  • Carthaea saturnioides, the sole member of the family Carthaeidae, a close relative to the Saturniidae

References

Bibliography

  • Latham, P. (2008) Les chenilles comestibles et leurs plantes nourricières dans la province du Bas-Congo. PDF fulltext
  • Latham, P. (2015) Edible Caterpillars and Their Food Plants in Bas-Congo Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. PDF fulltext
  • Scoble, M.J. (1995): The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Further reading

  • Burnie, David (2001). Smithsonian: Animal (1st American ed.). DK Publishing Inc., 375 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014.
  • Mitchell, Robert T. (2002). Butterflies and Moths: A Golden Guide From St. Martin's Press. St. Martin's Press, New York.
  • Racheli, L. & Racheli, T. (2006): The Saturniidae Fauna of Napo Province, Ecuador: An Overview (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología 34 (134): 125-139. PDF fulltext (inventory of about 200 Saturniidae taxa)
  • Lampe, Rudolf E. J. (2010) Saturniidae of the World – Pfauenspinner der Welt Their Life Stages from the Eggs to the Adults -Ihre Entwicklungsstadien vom Ei zum Falter [English and German]
  • Family Saturniidae (Wild Silk Moths)
  • Bombycoidea of Canada
  • Family Classification of Lepidoptera
  • University of Kentucky Entomology: Saturniid Moths
  • Moths (Saturniidae) of the United States
  • How to rear saturniid moths
  • Saturniidae of Europe
  • Saturnia-Homepage
  • Saturniidae World
  • Images of Saturniidae species of New Zealand