Hepialidae

(Incomplete list)
Aenetus
Aoraia
Cladoxycanus
Dioxycanus
Dumbletonius
Endoclyta
Fraus
Gazoryctra
Heloxycanus
Hepialus
Korscheltellus
Pharmacis
Phymatopus
Sthenopis
Triodia
Wiseana
Zenophassus

The Hepialidae are a family of moths with about 500 species recorded worldwide. Most species display strong sexual dimorphism with the males generally being smaller but more boldly marked than the females. Moths of this family are often referred to as swifts.

The family is considered to be primitive with a number of structural differences to other moths including very short antennae and lack of a proboscis or frenulum.

The larvae are also unusual for Lepidoptera in that they feed underground on the roots of various plants. They more resemble the maggots of Diptera than other moth or butterfly larvae. The female does not lay its eggs in a specific location but scatters the eggs while in flight (broadcasting), sometimes in huge numbers (over 10,000 from a single female in some species).

The following species are found in Europe:

• Gazoryctra fuscoargentea - Northern Scandinavia
• G. ganna - Alps, northern Scandinavia, northern Russia
• Hepialus fusconebulosa Map-winged Swift - Europe
• H. hecta Gold Swift - Central and northern Europe
• H. humuli Ghost Moth - Europe
• H. lupulinus Common Swift - Europe
• H. sylvina Orange Swift - Europe
• Pharmacis aemiliana - Italy
• P. anselminae - Italy
• P. bertrandi - France
• P. carna - Central and eastern Europe
• P. castillana - Spain
• P. claudiae - Italy
• P. pyrenaica - Pyrenees
• Triodia adriatica - Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Crete
• T. amasina - Balkans

References

Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)

Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984