Abstract
Lymantriidae is a family of moths and many of its component species are referred to as "Tussock moths." The Tussock Moth caterpillars are known for their striking tufts of hair, or tussocks. The caterpillar, or larval, stage of these species often has a distinctive appearance of alternating bristles and haired projections (Schintlmeister, 2004). Like other families of moths, many Tussock Moth caterpillars have urticating hairs (often hidden among longer, softer hairs) which can cause painful reactions if they come into contact with skin.
The family Lymantriidae includes about 350 known genera and over 2,500 known species found all over the world, in every continent except Antartica. They are particularly concentrated in Sub Saharan Africa, India, South East Asia and South America; one estimate lists 258 species in Madagascar alone (Schaefer, 1989). Apart from oceanic islands, notable places that do not host Lymantriids include New Zealand, the Antilles, and New Caledonia (Schaefer , 1989).
References
Schaefer Paul: (Diversity in form, function, behavior, and ecology, In: USDA Forest Service (ed.): Proceedings, Lymantriidae: a comparison of features of New and Old World tussock moths: 1-19. Broomall, PA, 1989.
Scoble MJ: The Lepidoptera: Form, function and diversity (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press, 1992
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Schintlmeister Alexander :The Taxonomy of the genus Lymantria Hubner, [1819] (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae, 2004.
Wickman Boyd E: Phenology of tussock moth. In McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology, p. 183-185. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1978.
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