Spirama

Spirama is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.

Spirama
Spirama sp., Sri Lanka
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Erebidae
Tribe:	Hypopyrini
Genus:	Spirama Guenée in Boisduval & Guenée, 1852[1]
Synonyms
Spiramia Walker, 1858

Description

Antennae usually minutely fasciculate (bundled) in the male. The tibia is not hairy and mid-tibia spined. Palpi with second joint reaching vertex of head and third joint naked. Thorax and abdomen smoothly clothed with hair. Forewings with nearly rectangular apex. Hindwings with vein 5 from the lower angle of the cell, which is rather short.^[2]

Defensive display

Further information: Deimatic behaviour and Deception in animals

Some of the species, such as S. helicina, S. indenta, S. recessa, S. remota and S. sumbana, have a pattern on the wings that looks like the frontal view of the face of a snake with a slightly opened mouth. This pattern is more clearly discernible in females. It may intimidate potential predators and dissuade them from attacking.^[3]

Spirama indenta female

Spirama helicina female

Spirama retorta female

Species

• Spirama biformis Hulstaert, 1924
• Spirama capitulifera Prout, 1919
• Spirama euphrages Prout, 1924
• Spirama euspira (Hubner, 1823)
• Spirama glaucescens Butler, 1893
• Spirama griseisigma Hampson, 1913
• Spirama helicina Hübner, [1831]
• Spirama inconspicua Herrich-Schäffer, [1854]
• Spirama indenta Hampson, 1891
• Spirama kalaoensis Swinhoe, 1904
• Spirama miniata Wallengren, 1856
• Spirama paecila (Guenée, 1852)
• Spirama recessa Walker, 1858
• Spirama remota Felder, 1861
• Spirama retorta Clerck, 1764
• Spirama sumbana Swinhoe, 1904
• Spirama triloba Guenée, 1852
• Spirama voluta Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874

Former species

• Spirama obscura Cramer, 1780 was moved to the genus Speiredonia in 2005.
• Spirama revolvens (Walker, 1858)