The Catocalinae are a subfamily of noctuoid moths, placed in family Noctuidae. In the alternative arrangement, where the Noctuidae are reduced to the core group around the Noctuinae, the present lineage is abolished, the upranked Catocalini being merged with the Erebini and becoming a subfamily of the reestablished family Erebidae.FE (2011), and see references in Sacvela (2011)
Many of the species are large () compared to other noctuids in temperate zones, and have brightly colored backwings.
The closely related Ophiderinae and Calpinae are sometimes merged into this group.
Genera The Catocalinae genera are usually assigned to the tribes Tytini, Armadini and Erebini, which have a fairly small number of genera, and the much larger Catocalini. The Poaphilini are another proposed tribe around the genus Argyrostrotis (= Poaphila), but is here considered to be paraphyletic. In addition, a high proportion of genera is not at present assigned to a specific tribe as their relationships require further study. These genera incertae sedis are:See references in Savela (2011)
Acanthodelta Acanthodica Alapadna Allotria Alophosoma Amphiongia Anereuthina Anisoneura Anydrophila Argyrostrotis Arsacia Artena Arthisma Athyrma Attatha Attonda Axiocteta Bamra Batracharta Blasticorhinus Bocula Calesia Calliodes Celiptera Chalciope Chrysopera Coenipeta (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Crioa Ctenusa Cutina Cyligramma Dasypodia Delgamma Dermaleipa (sometimes in Thyas) Dinumma Donuca Dordura Doryodes Ecphysis Egybolis Entomogramma Ercheia Erygia Eubolina (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Euclystis (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Euparthenos (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Felinia Focillidia Gesonia Hamodes Hexamitoptera Homodes Hypopyra Iontha Ischyja Lacera Loxioda Lygniodes Matigramma (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Metria (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Mocis Niguza Ocalaria Ommatophora Pantydia Parallelia (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Phoberia Phyllodes Platyja Plecoptera Pseudanthracia (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Pseudoarcte Pseudosphetta Pterocyclophora Ptichodis Remigiodes Sciatta Scolecocampa Serrodes Speiredonia Spiloloma Spirama Sympis Tephriopis Thyas (Catocalini: Ophiusina?) Trigonodes Varicosia Zale (Catocalini: Ophiusina?)
In addition, some little-known noctuoid moth species which differ somewhat from the bulk of their supposed genera might belong here: Crypsiprora oxymetopa Turner, 1941 Hypoprora tortuosa Turner, 1929 Prorocopis acroleuca Turner, 1929 Raparna trigramma Turner, 1906 Sophta aeluropis Meyrick, 1902
Placement of Xenogenes in the Catocalinae is in error; it is a geometer moth, family Geometridae.
Footnotes
References
(2011): Erebinae. Version 2.4, 2011-JAN-27. Retrieved 2011-DEC-27. (2011): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Catocalinae. Version of 2011-OCT-29. Retrieved 2011-DEC-27.
External links R.A.R.E. France species. Catocalinae classification and pictures Photo gallery of Catocalinae Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Catocalinae. Retrieved 2006-JAN-11.