American Butterfly Moths

American butterfly moths, family Hedylidae, total only 40 known species, all Neotropical. The family is in the superfamily Geometroidea, in the section Cossina, subsection Bombycina, of the division Ditrysia. Adults medium size (35–65 mm wingspan), with head scaling normal; haustellum naked; labial palpi upcurved; maxillary palpi 1 to 2-segmented; antennae filiform.

Wings triangular, with forewings somewhat elongated and often with apex emarginated (Fig. 38); hindwings usually more rounded. Body usually narrow. Maculation somber hues of brown and gray, often with apical dark patch and some speckling, plus pale or hyaline patches (rarely mostly pale or hyaline). Adults nocturnal. Larvae are leaf feeders. Host plants are recorded in Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae.

Figure 38 Example of American butterfly moths (Hedylidae), Macrosoma lucivittata (Walker), from Ecuador.