Speiredonia is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1823.
Description Palpi with thickened second joint, reaching vertex of head and third joint of moderate length. Antennae of male with minute fascicules of cilia. Thorax quadrately scaled. Abdomen with dorsal ridges of hair. Tibia slightly hairy, and mid-tibia spineless. Forewings with arched costa towards apex. Cilia crenulate. Hindwings with crenulate cilia as well, but with short cell. Vein 5 from lower angle of cell.
Defensive display
Some of the species, such as Speiredonia spectans, S. cthulhui, S. hogenesi, S. martabanica, S. sandokana, S. alix. S. itynx, S. levis and S. celebensis have a pattern on the wings that while the moth is at rest looks like the 3-dimensional face of a lurking animal with eyes and nostrils. This pattern is more clearly discernible in females and may cause an attacking predator to hesitate or perhaps withdraw.John L. Capinera, Encyclopedia of Entomology, Volume 4, p. 1174
Species Speiredonia alix (Guenée, 1852) Speiredonia celebensis Hogenes & Zilli, 2005 Speiredonia cthulhui Zilli & Holloway, 2005 Speiredonia cymosema (Hampson, 1926) Speiredonia darwiniana Zilli, 2010 Speiredonia gowa Holloway & Zilli, 2005 Speiredonia hogenesi Zilli, 2002 Speiredonia ibanorum Holloway & Zilli, 2005 Speiredonia inocellata Sugi, 1996 Speiredonia itynx Fabricius, 1787 Speiredonia levis Holloway & Zilli, 2005 Speiredonia martabanica Holloway & Zilli, 2005 Speiredonia mutabilis Fabricius, 1794 Speiredonia obscura (Cramer, 1780) Speiredonia sandokana Zilli & Holloway, 2005 Speiredonia simplex Butler, 1877 Speiredonia spectans (Guenée, 1852) – granny's cloak moth Speiredonia strigiformis (Robinson, 1975) Speiredonia substruens (Walker, 1858)
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