Family Mimallonidae (Mimallonid Moths) | Butterflies and Moths of North America

Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Description of Mimallonidae

The Mimallonidae are the sole family of the Superfamily Mimallonoidea. They are primarily distributed in the New World tropics, with about 200 species described and 4 species found in North America. Mimallonid adults are medium to large, stout bodied, hairy moths with broad wings (wingspan 2-5 cm). Larvae are thick in the middle, tapering toward ends. Later stages build unique, open-ended cases or "sacks" of silk and leaves in which larvae overwinter. Pupation is in late spring.

Subfamily:

Cicinnus melsheimeri Melsheimer's Sack-bearer Harris, 1841

Lacosoma chiridota Scalloped Sack-bearer Grote, 1864

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Description of Mimallonidae

The Mimallonidae are the sole family of the Superfamily Mimallonoidea. They are primarily distributed in the New World tropics, with about 200 species described and 4 species found in North America. Mimallonid adults are medium to large, stout bodied, hairy moths with broad wings (wingspan 2-5 cm). Larvae are thick in the middle, tapering toward ends. Later stages build unique, open-ended cases or "sacks" of silk and leaves in which larvae overwinter. Pupation is in late spring.

Photographs of Mimallonidae

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Melsheimer's Sack-bearer
Cicinnus melsheimeri

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota

Scalloped Sack-bearer
Lacosoma chiridota