Axia (moth)

Axia, the gold moths, is a genus of moths whose precise relationships within the macrolepidoptera are currently uncertain, but they currently are placed within the superfamily Drepanoidea. Uniquely, they have a pair of pocket-like organs on the seventh abdominal spiracle of the adult moth^[1] which are possibly sound receptive organs.^[2] They are quite large and brightly coloured moths that occur only in southern Europe and feed on species of Euphorbia. Sometimes they are attracted to light.^[1] The genus was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1821.

Axia
Axia margarita
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Cimeliidae
Genus:	Axia Hübner, 1821
Synonyms
Timia Boisduval, 1828 Cimelia Lederer, 1853 Cimetimia Chrétien, 1916

One species, Epicimelia theresiae, was formerly included in this genus, but has since been recognized as distinct; it represents the only other described genus in the family.^[3]

Species

• Axia margarita (Hübner, 1813)
• Axia napoleona Schawerda, 1926
• Axia nesiota Reisser, 1962
• Axia olga (Staudinger, 1899)
• Axia vaulogeri Staudinger, 1892