MICRONOCTUIDAE Fibiger, 2005

Fibiger, Michael & Kononenko, Vladimir S., 2008, Revision of the Micronoctuidae species occurring in the Russian Far East and neighbouring countries with description of a new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea), Zootaxa 1890, pp. 50-58 : 50-51

Family MICRONOCTUIDAE Fibiger, 2005

Fibiger, 2005, in Fibiger & Lafontaine, 2005, Esperiana 11: 33. Type genus Micronoctua Fibiger, 1997

Small and very small moths (wingspan 6–13 mm). Vein M3 and Cu1 on hindwing stalked; together with C2 the hindwing becomes two-branched (bifid hindwing); one of the autapomorphic character states for the family, not found elsewhere in the superfamily Noctuoidea. Clypeofrons fully and smoothly scaled. Ground colour of the body and wings gray, brown gray or brown; wing pattern uniform in most species. The reniform spot pure yellow or whitish-yellow, outlined in black or brown, orbicular spot absent. Male and female genitalia asymmetrical in most species. In male genitalia uncus lost; the fultura superior has been transformed into bizarre configurations in the majority of species; clasper bar at a right angle to the valve margins; ampulla plate-like; juxta-anellus structures fused. In female genitalia posterior apophyses stick-like; signum single, crossbar-shaped. Larvae semiloopers in known instars (1–3). Seta D1 absent on mesothorax; L2 seta on meso- and metathorax strongly reduced. The known larvae feed on fungi.

Over 300 species are known in the World fauna, many species, mainly of tropical faunas are still undescribed. Most species are concentrated in tropical and subtropical areas of the Oriental and Afrotropical zoogeographic regions. In the Palaearctic one species is known from Mediterranean region and about 5–10 species from Sino-Pacific subregions. The family is currently under revision (Fibiger in prep.).

The family is represented in the Russian Far East and neighbouring countries by two species. Both species are placed here in the already described genera Mimachrostia Sugi, 1982 and Micronoctua Fibiger, 1997 . The northernmost limit of distribution of the Micronoctuidae is the middle of the Amur river (50°31ˏN, 137° 0 35ˏ E) in Russia and the Hokkaido island of Japan (Oiwake), reached by Mimachrostia fasciata Sugi, 1982 .