Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Rank Subfamily | Superfamily Noctuoidea Higher classification Erebidae Order Butterflies and moths | |
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Lower classifications Dysgonia, Mocis, Zale, Burnet companio, Spirama | ||
The Erebinae are a subfamily of moths in the Erebidae family. Many of the species in the subfamily are large (7 to 10 cm, 3 to 4 inches) compared with other noctuoid moths in temperate zones. Some of these large moths, such as those in Catocala and related genera, have brightly colored hindwings used as distraction displays, while others, such as those in Zale and related genera, have mottled, drably colored hindwings helpful as camouflage in grass and on tree trunks.
Taxonomy
Many of the members of the Erebinae were previously classified within the Catocalinae subfamily or Catocalini tribe within either the Erebidae or Noctuidae family. Several morphological and phylogenetic studies completed since 2000 have repeatedly revised these large families of the Noctuoidea superfamily, and further revision continues with current study. A historical summary of the systematics of the Catocalinae and Erebinae has been written by Holloway.