Rivulinae

11. Rivulinae View in CoL

The family-group name Rivulinae is also used in Pisces ( Holloway 2005; Speidel & Naumann 2005) with greater frequency and stability than in Lepidoptera . Speidel & Naumann (2005) suggested that, although usage in Lepidoptera had priority, stability might best be served by ceding Rivulinae to Pisces and using Rivulainae until the concept of subfamily status can be more firmly substantiated for the lepidopteran group ( Holloway 2008). Kitching & Rawlins (1998) included it in the Hypeninae however, Fibiger & Lafontaine (2005) and Lafontaine & Fibiger (2006) recognised it as a distinct subfamily, the classification further endorsed by Holloway (2011) and Zahiri et al. (2012).

Adult characters. The distinctive proboscis of Rivulinae , characterized by its microsculpturing, has not been documented in any other members of the Erebidae or Noctuidae (Speidel et al. 1996a, b) and the clypeofrons is entirely covered in scales.

Larval characters. Prolegs are fully developed; long barbed setae (like those in Arctiinae and Acronictinae ) and the dorsolateral movement of the SV3 seta on A1 and A2 to share a common pinaculum with L3 (giving the SV-group a bisetose appearance) are the apomorphic characters ( Fibiger & Lafontaine 2005).

Diversity and distribution. About 185 species in seven genera: Alesua Dyar, 1918 ; Bocula Guenée in Boisduval & Guenée, 1852; Oglasa Walker, [1859] ; Oglasodes Hampson, 1926 ; Oxycilla Grote, 1896 ; Rivula Guenée in Duponchel, [1845]; Zebeeba Kirby, 1892 are distributed in Old World as well as in New World covering Oriental region, Australia, China, European Union, Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar, and Mexico. In India , 28 species in two genera i.e. Bocula and Rivula are reported.