Larvae Family Matrix [Heimomatriisi]

Note that larvae of certain groups show a wide spectrum of diversity even in the tribus level. There is no general agreement, whether this has consequences in systematics and phylogeny. I may later rearrange the species order to facilitate easier identification from the caterpillar point of view. Each photo is a link to a corresponding species group page, where I later intend to illustrate the most often (in FI) found larvae. On these pages, you will find additional links to the separate species pages (to be updated little by little).

Wormbox [Matolaatikko]
Large well-known larvae
Lasiocampidae etc.
The Big 'Bombers'		 Horn is absent in few species like porcellus
Sphingidae
Hawk-moths		 Larvae as well are thickheads
Hesperiidae
Betw. spun leaves		 Everybody knows Papilio machaon
Papilionidae
Conspicuous		 Mostly on Brassicaceae or Fabaceae (Leptidea, Colias)
Pieridae
Mostly green		 Larvae difficult to find, ova easier
Lycaenini etc.
Small, slug-like		 Ova and larvae seldom found
Polyommatini
Green or brown		 Larvae tend to hide away from the host
Argynnini
Spiny, often dark
Perhaps the most common larvae of Diurna
Nymphalini
Spiny		 Including the spectacular Limenitis and Apatura
Melitaeini etc.
With warts		 But not too often found!
Satyrinae
On grasses		 The common ones: batis, or, duplaris
Thyatirinae
Most betw. spun l.		 Host-plant info is always useful!
Drepaninae
Strange form		 L. marginata is quite different from grossul. or sylvata
Abraxini
An easy group		 A few more common species
Macarini etc.
Well, nothing special		 A group of individuals
Ourapterygini
Few w/ appendages
Ennomos never found, the others easier
Ennomini etc.
Humps or warts		 These larvae are often found
Bistonini etc.
Rather big Geom.		 Some rather common stuff
Boarmiini
Mainly on shrubs		 Alnus: pusaria, Salix: exanthemata, mostly so?
Caberiini etc.
On trees and shrubs		 A too diverse group, systematics may suck
Gnophini
Most on low plants		 Comibaenini bear sacks, Geometra and Jodis rather common
Geometrinae etc.
Very diverse subf.		 C. albipunctata is the only common species in FI
Cosymbinini
Slender ohm/stick		 At least ternata larva is abundant
Scopulini etc.
Skinny macaroni
All of these are very inconspicuous as larvae
Sterrhini
In litter (not found)		 Even the common species are seldom found as larvae
Xanthorhoini etc.
Most on Galium		 Host is a clue
Larentiini
A few common spp.		 Some with a rear fork. Host is a clue here as well
Cidariini
Slender larvae		 Hydriomena betw. spun leaves, Melanthiini on Clematis, accepting Ranunculus
Cidar. Melanthiini
Thera on conifers		 The best way to find cervinalis, but where do dubitata larvae hide, in caves?
Rheumapterini etc.
Betw. spun leaves		 E. autumnata, O. brumata, and fagata are common
Operophterini
Oper. betw. spun l.		 Identification simply based on the host plant
Perizomini etc.
Most in seed caps.
Host is a clue
Eupitheciini 1
Most pugs prefer		 Mostly well found as larvae
Eupitheciini 2
fruits and flowers		 Trichopterygini and A. praeformata are often found, Asthenini never
Trichopterygini etc.
Some have a fork		 Now we are talking about diversity!
Notodontidae
Thick l. on shrubs		 Is the one you found salicis or antiqua!
Lymantriidae
Tufts may irritate		 A few species are feeding on green algae or lichen
Lithosiinae, Syntom.
Rather seldom seen		 Only cribraria, dominula and possibly jacobaeae in FI
Callimorphini
Short hairs		 Dark forms difficult to identify
Arctiini
Long soft hairs
N. cucullatella perhaps most often?
Nolinae
L. seldom found		 Namely Pseudoips prasinana (not in the picture)
Chloephorinae
Only 1 common sp.		 Conspicuous invariable hairy larvae
Acronict.+ Panth.
Easy and common		 C. raptricula larvae are honestly never found!
Bryophilinae
Never seen in FI		 Common species, but extremely scarce larvae
Herminiinae etc.
Leaf litter, rare as l.		 Nice face, though!
Catocalinae
Rare larvae		 L. pastinum, C. mi, E. glyphica, S. libatrix - that's it!
Toxocampini etc.
A few common spp.		 When disturbed, they move backwards
Hypeninae etc.
Fast reverse gear
Many similar larvae in this group
Plusiinae
Typ. posture, green		 I have found D. uncula, some others by ex ovo
Eustrotiinae etc.
All rather rare		 Rather easy, except the Artemisia club
Cuculliinae
Conspicuous		 No, these are not Sphingidae
Amphipyrinae etc.
Posture, big, green		 P. umbra especially on Senecio, the others are rare in FI
Heliothinae etc.
On seed & flower		 E. venustula, S. anomala, A. pulmonaris, S. exigua and the 4 last look different, otherwise shit!
Caradrini etc.
Ugly uncommon		 Especially E. lucipara and A. polyodon
Ipimorphini 1
Some common spp.		 All on trees and shrubs
Ipimorphini 2
Many betw. spun l.
Typical noctuid larvae (Agrochola, Eupsilia) and some more shit (Xanthia, Conistra)
Xylenini 1
Early summer larvae		 L. solidaginis, L. socia, A. chi, A. caecimacula, M. adusta - try these!
Xylenini 2
Robust Noctuidae		 A. crenata and remissa are the most common larvae in this pack, others are found accidentally
Apameini 1
Grass, stem or root		 Except by searching intensively
Apameini 2
You won't find these		 L. oleracea and contigua are the common generalists
Hadenini 1a
Lower vegetation		 Most feed on Silene, A. bicolorata on Hieracium
Hadenini 1b
Seed and flower		 M. pisi, P. biren, and southern Polia?
Hadenini 2a
Some common ones		 A relatively constant genus
Had. 2b, Mythimna
On grasses at night
O. gothica and incerta are abundant as larvae
Orthosiini 1
Early summer larvae		 C. graminis is common, also T. cespitis and decimalis
Orthosiini 2
3 spp. on grasses		 A few bigger more common species like E. occulta
Noctuini 1
On lower vegetation		 X. triangulum and the 7 last are more common
Noctuini 2
Only a few common		 These guys are real zombies, drawing their food into sand
Agrotini
Shy sandmen
A selection
of 'Lonely Riders'
To be updated
in due course
Zygaena viciae
Zygaenidae
Slugs again		 Hepialus fusconebulosus
Hepialidae
White underground		 'Colossus'
Cossidae
What a smell!		 Synanthedon flaviventris
Sesiidae
White wood borers		 Canephora unicolor
Psychidae
Bagworms		 Tinea sp.
Tineidae
Some in cases		 Coleophora alnifoliae
Coleophoridae
Case bearers		 Phyllocnistis labyrinthella
Gracillariidae
Miners
Ethmia pusiella
Ethmiidae
Colourful		 Yponomeuta malinellus
Yponomeutidae
Net weavers		 Cheimophila salicella
Oecophoridae s.l.
Leaf rollers		 Athrips mouffetella
Gelechiidae
Leaf rollers		 Clepsis senecionana
Tortricidae
Leaf rollers		 Opsibotys fuscalis
Pyralidae
Leaf rollers		 Roeslerstammia erxclebella
Other species of
Microlepidoptera

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© Dr. Kimmo Silvonen, http://www.silvonen.net (Kimmo´s Lepidoptera Site)