Larval Chaetotaxy of the Japanese Plume-moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), with Special Reference to Their Phylogenetic Relationships

Larval chaetotaxy of the Japanese pterophorid genera is evaluated from the viewpoint of its phylogenetic relationships. Thirteen genera examined are grouped into 4 types based on the larval chaetotaxy in mature larva: Type A (primary setae), Type B (primary setae and minute secondary setae), Type C (secondary setae from regular pinacula and scattered secondary setae) and Type D (secondary setae from regular pinacula). Type A represented by Ochyrotica of Agdistinae and Deuterocopus and Nippoptilia of Platyptiliinae may be the most primitive, then come Types B and C represented by most of the genera of Platyptiliinae, and Type D, represented by the genera of Pterophorinae, is the most advanced.

Larval chaetotaxy

Pterophoridae

phylogeny