2.7. Odontiinae

Diversity and distribution: present on all continents and continental islands, with the exception of New Zealand. In cold or dry environments, the imagines are often diurnal (Munroe & Solis 1999). The subfamily comprises 388 species in 87 genera (Nuss et al. 2003–2022, Léger et al. 2020). From India, 27 species in 19 genera are reported, representing 6.95 % of the global diversity of Odontiinae. Of the 19 genera reported from India, 11 genera are known by single species, and the remaining eight genera are known by fewer than 10 species (Fig. 23). In India, the Odontiinae are most diverse in North East, followed by the Gangetic plain, and Deccan Peninsula. The remaining biogeographic zones have fewer species. No Odontiinae are reported from the Desert and Trans-Himalaya biogeographic zones (Fig. 24).

Adult characters: wings are pale with strong dark-grey brown borders. Dorsal angle of forewing is slightly falcate, sometimes with a tooth of scales, and 2A free or in a loop with 1A, like in Pyraustinae. In the male genitalia, the uncus is semimembranosus and bilobed, with lateral setae anteriorly directed. The gnathos with its spike-like median element is basally fused to the posterolateral tegumen margins. In the tribe Eurrhypini, the vinculum exhibits a process at each ventrolateral angle bearing coremata. The valvae are more or less broadly rounded at the apex. The eighth abdominal sternite has specialized sclerites bearing androconia (Munroe & Solis 1999).

Larval characters: Cynaeda dentalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller]), C. pustulalis (Hübner) and Atratala albofascialis (Treitschke) are leafminers and therefore have a very aberrant larval morphology (Hasenfuss 1960). The larvae of these species and those of Titanio Hübner are described in Hasenfuss (1960).

Food plants: larvae are generally leaf miners, whereas those of the tribe Eurhypiini feed on folded leaves, flowers and buds, and bore in fruits and stems. The range of host plants is wide, but dicotyledones are the most common food plants (Munroe & Solis 1999).