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The Cyclidiinae contain only two Oriental genera. Their build and wing
shape is not dissimilar to that of some Drepaninae. They have a strong frenulum
and retinaculum. The forewing venation lacks an areole, with R1 arising
independently from, but running closely parallel to Rs for much of its length.
The male antennae are filiform, somewhat flattened, lamellate.
The male abdomen is characterised by hair pencils or slight coremata
just posterior to the tympanal organs (Scoble, 1992), supported by a sclerotised
band. In the male genitalia the gnathus is strong. The type genus has socii
reminiscent of those of the Thyatirinae. The signum of the female, when present,
is also similar to that in Thyatirinae.
The larva has numerous secondary setae (Scoble, 1992). The biology of
the type genus is described briefly below. The subfamily may be uniquely
associated with the plant family Alangiaceae (See
Cyclidia
Guenée), but has a narrower
distribution.
Chu & Wang (1985, 1987) showed the Cyclidiinae to be a sister-group
to the Drepanini + Oretini, but did not include the Thyatirinae in their
cladistic analysis. They used the Geometridae as an outgroup. Hence resolution
of the relationships of the three subfamilies must await a more comprehensive
analysis. Scoble & Edwards (1988) noted the presence of a weak patch of
aculei on each side of the thoracic metascutum in one out of two Cyclidia Guenée
species examined, but no corresponding patch below the forewing. In Thyatirinae
both patches are usually present and act as a wing-thorax coupling mechanism.
The condition of the socii in males of Cyclidia and of the signum in
females may indicate a closer relationship to the Thyatirinae. The lamellate
male antennae may be a further pointer in this direction.
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