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Identification key to the Notodontidae
occurring in the Dakotas
The Notodontidae, as a member of the
Superfamily Noctuoidea are characterized by having a metathoracic tympanum (1)
and are the only North American family in this group possessing trifid forewing
venation (2). In most species (43 of 44 covered here) veins Sc+R and Rs
run parallel above the discal cell or slightly convergent (3). In only a
single species of Notodontidae do these veins converge and so form a basal
areole as found in other quadrifid moth families (Noctuidae, Lasiocampidae,
Drepanidae: Drepaninae) and in other families of trifid Lepidoptera (Geometridae,
Bombycidae, Drepanidae: Thyatirinae).
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1Metathoracic
tympanum of a notodontid (left); basal abdominal tympana of a geometrid (top
right) and a drepanid (bottom right).
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2Ventral
forewing of a notodontid showing trifid venation (left). Ventral forewing of
a noctuid showing quadrifid venation (right). In each image, the
discal cell is indicated by blue shading. Arrows indicate the veins
from top to bottom as M2, M3, CuA1 and CuA2,
respectively. Dots at midpoint indicate the course of each vein.
Pink dots indicate the vein bases. In trifid wing venation, vein M2
(green arrow) arises from the discal cell at midpoint or higher.
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3Ventral
hindwing of a notodontid, Schizura ipomoea (left) showing
veins Sc+R and Rs running parallel above the discal cell. Ventral
hindwing of an aberrant notodontid, Macrurocampa marthessia (right)
showing venins Sc+R and Rs anatomosing for part of their lengths above the
discal cell.
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Begin key
Return to
Introduction
Return to Family Notodontidae
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