produce a deadly toxin injected into the victim when it is touched. Systematics and evolution In terms of absolute numbers of species, the Saturniidae are most diverse in the Neotropics. Also, their most ancient subfamilies occur only in the Americas. Only the very "modern" Saturniidae are widely distributed across most parts of the world. Thus, it is quite safe to assume – even in the absence of a comprehensive fossil record – that the first Saturniidae originated in the Neotropical region. Note that at least two of the subfamilies included below are commonly treated as separate families (Oxyteninae and Cercophaninae). The following list arranges the subfamilies in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, from the most ancient to the most advanced. Subfamily Oxyteninae (3 genera, 35 species) Subfamily Cercophaninae (4 genera, 10 species) Subfamily Arsenurinae (10 genera, 60 species, Neotropics) Subfamily Ceratocampinae (27 genera, 170 species, Americas) Subfamily Hemileucinae (51 genera, 630 species, Americas) Subfamily Agliinae (1 genus, 3 species) Subfamily Ludiinae (disputed) (8 genera, Africa) Subfamily Salassinae (1 genus, 12 species, tropics) Subfamily Saturniinae (59 genera, 480 species, tropical and temperate regions worldwide) See also Carthaea saturnioides, the sole member of the family Carthaeidae, a close relative to the Saturniidae References Bibliography Latham, P. (2008) Les chenilles comestibles et leurs plantes nourricières dans la province du Bas-Congo. PDF fulltext Latham, P. (2015) Edible Caterpillars and Their Food Plants in Bas-Congo Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. PDF fulltext Scoble, M.J. (1995): The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. Further reading Burnie, David (2001). Smithsonian: Animal (1st American ed.). DK Publishing Inc., 375 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014. Mitchell, Robert T. (2002). Butterflies and Moths: A Golden Guide From St. Martin's Press. St. Martin's Press, New York. Racheli, L. & Racheli, T. (2006): The Saturniidae Fauna of Napo Province, Ecuador: An Overview (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología 34 (134): 125-139. PDF fulltext (inventory of about 200 Saturniidae taxa) Lampe, Rudolf E. J. (2010) Saturniidae of the World – Pfauenspinner der Welt Their Life Stages from the Eggs to the Adults -Ihre Entwicklungsstadien vom Ei zum Falter [English and German] External links Family Saturniidae (Wild Silk Moths) Bombycoidea of Canada Family Classification of Lepidoptera University of Kentucky Entomology: Saturniid Moths Moths (Saturniidae) of the United States How to rear saturniid moths Saturniidae of Europe Saturnia-Homepage Saturniidae World Images of Saturniidae species of New Zealand Moth families