The Limacodidae: The Australian Cup Moths

The Limacodidae are a temperate and tropical family in the Zygaenoidea containing primarily medium to small-sized nocturnal moths with buzzy erratic flights at light after sunset. They are best known for their slug-like larvae that have a modified undersurface of suckers as well as their hard and oval cocoons. These cocoons resemble cups because they lose their lids post adult emergence. While several authors have generated a great deal of information on the mostly endemic Australian fauna of 70 species in 25 genera of Limacodidae, we present here new knowledge of the fauna along with a global perspective on their phylogeny and the ontogeny of their larvae. This includes more global comparison of unusual morphologies and life histories that can be quite similar or very different. Similarities include sexually dimorphic species with clear-winged males and larger opaque-winged females, gregarious larvae and cocoons. A difference is that the lineage of the tribe Eucleini, the larvae of which possess urticating hairs, do not feed as first instars. In comparison with other temperate and tropical regions, the Eucleini is much more species rich in the Australian fauna than is the Limacodini, the larvae of which have no urticating hairs. We review local food plant information and life histories, and make some progress on resolving some taxonomic problems.