Jump to content

Spirama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Gihan Jayaweera (talk | contribs) at 16:20, 17 August 2016. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Spirama
Spirama recessa.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Tribe: Hypopyrini
Genus: Spirama
Guenée in Boisduval & Guenée, 1852[1]
Synonyms
  • Spiramia Walker, 1858

Spirama is a genus of moths in the Erebidae family.

Description

Antennae usually minutely fasciculate in male. Tibia not hairy and mid tibia spined. Palpi with second joint reaching vertex of head and third joint naked. Thorax and abdomen smoothly clothed with hair. Fore wings with nearly rectangular apex. Hind wings with vein 5 from lower angle of cell, which is rather short.[2]

Defensive display

Some of the species, such as S. helicina, S. indenta, S. recessa, S. remota and S. sumbana, have a pattern on the wings that looks like the frontal view of the face of a snake with slightly opened mouth. This pattern is more clearly discernible in females. It may intimidate potential predators and dissuade them from attacking.[3]

Spirama indenta female
Spirama helicina female
Spirama retorta female

Species

Former species

References

  1. ^ taxapad.com
  2. ^ Hampson G. F. (1892). "The Fauna Of British India Including Ceylon And Burma Moths Vol-ii". Digital Library of India. p. 558. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  3. ^ John L. Capinera, Encyclopedia of Entomology, Volume 4, p. 1174

External links