Yponomeutoidea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yponomeutoidea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ermine moth, Yponomeuta evonymella | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Clade: | Ditrysia |
| Superfamily: | Yponomeutoidea |
| Families | |
|
See text | |
| Diversity | |
| Over 1,500 species of micromoths | |
Yponomeutoidea is a superfamily of ermine moths and relatives. There are about 1,800 species of Yponomeutoids worldwide, most of them known to come from temperate regions.[1] This superfamily is one of the earliest groups to evolve external feeding and to colonize herbs in addition to shrubs and trees.[1]
The family composition of Yponomeutoidea has varied over time, with a 2013 study assigning eleven families:[2]
Etymology
The word Yponomeutoidea comes from the Ancient Greek ὑπό (ypo) meaning under and νομός (nomós) meaning food or dwelling, thus "feeding secretly, or burrow".[3]
