Systematics and Evolution
In terms of absolute numbers of species, the Saturniidae most diverse in the Neotropics. Also, their most ancient subfamilies occur only in the Americas. Only the very "modern" Saturniidae are widely distributed across most parts of the world. Thus, it is quite safe to assume – even in the absence of a comprehensive fossil record – that the first Saturniidae flew around in the neotropical region.
The following list arranges the subfamilies in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, from the most ancient to the most advanced one. Some notable genera and species are also included.
- Subfamily Oxyteninae (3 genera, 35 species)
- Oxytenis
- Subfamily Cercophaninae (4 genera, 10 species)
- Subfamily Arsenurinae (10 genera, 60 species, Neotropics)
- Paradaemonia
- Subfamily Ceratocampinae (27 genera, 170 species, Americas)
- Adeloneivaia
- Anisota
- Anisota senatoria – Orange-striped Oakworm Moth
- Citheronia
- Citheronia azteca
- Citheronia lobesis
- Citheronia regalis – Regal Moth
- Citheronia sepulcralis – Pine-devil Moth
- Dryocampa
- Dryocampa rubicunda – Rosy Maple Moth
- Eacles
- Eacles imperialis – Imperial Moth
- Sphingicampa
- Syssphinx
- Subfamily Hemileucinae (51 genera, 630 species, Americas)
- Automeris
- Automeris io – Io Moth
- Coloradia
- Hemileuca
- Hemileuca nevadensis – Nevada Buck Moth
- Hemileuca maia – Buck Moth
- Lonomia
- Ormiscodes
- Automeris
- Subfamily Agliinae (1 genus, 3 species)
- Aglia
- Aglia tau – Tau Emperor
- Aglia
- Subfamily Ludiinae (8 genera, Africa)
- Subfamily Salassinae (1 genus, 12 species, Tropics)
- Salassa
- Subfamily Saturniinae (59 genera, 480 species, tropical and temperate regions worldwide)
Read more about this topic: Saturniidae
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