Epinotia Hübner
Type species: stroemiana Fabricius
DIAGNOSIS
External characters:
Venation:
venation Epinotia stroemiana
Forewing: Chorda and M -stem well preserved.
Hindwing: M 3 and CuA 1 stalked.
Forewing shape and markings:
examples of Epinotia spp.
Forewing often with fasciate markings; costal fold present or absent in males.
Genitalia:
Male:
male gen. E. signatana
Tegumen broad; uncus broad, tapering posteriorly, bifid or bifurcate apically, in several species simple, hairy or bristled dorsally and laterally; socius usually subtriangular, more or less elongate, often reaching base of uncus, in some species well sclerotized, naked, or with basal hairs only, more frequently densely haired throughout; triangular sclerites variably developed, often coalescent with outer or inner part of bases of socii. Henion distinctly sclerotized laterally, usually expanding towards tuba analis, attaching to it laterally, membranous in median portions. Lateral edges of tuba analis in many species sclerotic, aciculate, in other species, however, completely membranous. Neck of valva in many species indistinct; cucullus often expanding dorso-terminally or (and) with well developed angle, marked with marginal spines; sacculus angulate or without angle; spines of sacculus in 2-3 groups, often coalescent with anterior group if present, exceptionally spines of neck developed; basal cavity rather short. Aedeagus simple, tubular; caulis short in some species forming posterior prominences; cornuti, a bunch of deciduous spines.
Female:
female gen. E. rubiginosana
Ovipositor short; anterior part of sterigma weak, postvaginal plate well-developed, more or less elongate, concave at ostium bursae or beyond it, where membranous; in a few species lateral parts of sterigma expanding, rarely sterigma almost completely atrophied; antrum usually short; cingulum median; ductus seminalis originating before cingulum or in it, in majority of species subdorsally. Signa, two strong, more or less flattened funnels. Subgenital sternite with variably incised posterior edge, often with well developed submedian folds or lobes.
Early stages:
Swatschek, 1958, provides a diagnosis based on chaetotaxy of 29 species and distinguishes some subgenera.
On prothorax L1 ventral to L2 and L3; D2 setae on shared pinaculum on ninth abdominal segment. If all L setae are situated in a straight line, then L1 and L2 are set diagonally from each other on the first abdominal segment and SD2 is situated dorsal or dorso-caudal from SD1.
Biology:
The species of Epinotia are univoltine; larvae feed in spun leaves and buds and are usually oligophagous. They utilize numerous plant families, mainly trees; hibernation in larval stage; pupae often in silken cocoons in the soil.
Distribution:
Known of Palaearctic, Nearctic, Oriental, Australian and Neotropical Regions.