Arctiinae

The Afrotropical genus Meganaclia Aurivillius, 1892 is revised, five new species M. smithi sp. n., M. grehani sp. n., M. josephi sp. n., M. johannae sp. n. and M. gaerberfesti sp. n. are described with a key for identification of species based on male genitalia structures. Habitus and genitalia of all taxa are illustrated and a distribution map is provided.

Phalaena militta Stoll, [1781], currently in the combination Thyrgis militta, is transferred to the new combination Calodesma militta. Phalaena militta is the type species of Thyrgis Walker, 1854, and so Thyrgis is a junior synonym of Calodesma Hübner, [1820]. The reinstated genus Seileria Dognin, 1923 is the next available name for the genus previously known as Thyrgis, and the remaining eight species and their subspecies currently in Thyrgis are transferred to new combinations as species of Seileria: S...

X-ray micro-computed tomography imaging (micro-CT) is valuable for systematic research since it permits the non-destructive scanning and imaging of internal structures of very rare species and/or type specimens. Additionally, micro-CT allows to view the morphology and the functional anatomy of structures in their natural anatomical position, without deformations that typically occur using classical dissection protocols. In this study we provide the description of two new species of lichen moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Lithosiini) from the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil: Nodozana heliae Moraes sp...

Currently, the genus Arctia Schrank, 1802 includes approximately 16 species in the Palaearctic region, depending on the taxonomic interpretation. Here, populations of the Arctiavillica (Linnaeus, 1758) morphospecies complex were studied from Europe to the Middle East (Turkey, northern Iran) by molecular methods. Morphological treatment has traditionally revealed the presence of five nominal taxa: A.villica (Linnaeus, 1758), A.angelica (Boisduval, 1829), A.konewkaii (Freyer, 1831), A.marchandi de Freina, 1983, and A...

A new species of the rarely collected neotropical microgastrine braconid wasp genus Larissimus Nixon, represented previously by only a single described species, L.cassander Nixon, was recovered by the Caterpillars and Parasitoids of the Eastern Andes in Ecuador inventory project. Larissimusnigricans sp. nov. was reared from an unidentified species of arctiine Erebidae feeding on the common bamboo species Chusqueascandens Kunth at the Yanayacu Biological Station near Cosanga, Napo Province, Ecuador. The new species is described and diagnosed from L...

A new subgenus of the genus Manulea Wallengren, 1863, Churingosia subgen. n. (type species: Ilema nigripes Hampson, 1900) is described and subdivided into two species groups. Two new combinations are introduced: Manulea (Churingosia) chrysophleps (Hampson, 1895), comb. n. and Manulea (Churingosia) nigripes (Hampson, 1900), comb. n. Four new species are described: Manulea (Churingosia) fardyftera sp. n. from Northeast India, Manulea (Churingosia) reducta sp. n. from northern Myanmar and Northeast India, Manulea (Churingosia) mikrotera sp...

The species of Eilema Hübner, [1819] sensu lato, present in Europe and North Africa, are studied on the basis of morphological characteristics and molecular genetics. Images of adults, genitalia of both sexes, immature stages, as well as phylogenetic trees obtained from the combined analysis of three different genetic markers are presented. Data on life cycles, food plants, and geographic distribution are also included. The morphological differences observed within Eilema sensu lato have led the authors to create the genera Indalia gen...

One new species of the genus Garudinia Moore, 1882, G. ovata sp. nov., is described from China. Two species, G. pseudolatana Holloway, 2001 and G. biplagiata Hampson, 1896, are reported for the first time from China. The female genitalia of G. pseudolatana is described herein for the first time. The new species' imagos and genitalia are illustrated and compared with related species. The distribution map of the genus Garudinia in China is provided.

The genus Agrisius Walker, 1855 is transferred from the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae to the family Nolidae, subfamily Eligminae. The Agrisius guttivitta Walker species group is reviewed and five new species are described: Agrisius soror sp. n. (North Vietnam), Agrisius witti sp. n. (China, Yunnan), Agrisius cernyi sp. n. (North and West Thailand), Agrisius kachina sp. n. (North Myanmar), and Agrisius frater sp. n. (China, Shaanxi). A new synonymy is introduced: Agrisius vernalis Dubatolov, Kishida & Wang, 2012 = Agrisius fangchenglaiae Orhant, 2015, syn...

The footman moth genus Birketsmithiola Krüger, 2015 is reviewed and five new species are described: B. kruegeri sp. n. (eastern D.R. Congo), B. kingstoni sp. n. (Malawi), B. smithi sp. n. (Zambia and Malawi), B. nakuru sp. n. (Kenya), and B. bvumba sp. n. (Zimbabwe). Eilema sanguicosta var. nyassana Strand, 1912 previously considered as an unavailable name is restored and upgraded to species level: B. nyassana (Strand, 1912), stat. rev. Lectotypes for Ilema sanguicosta Hampson, 1901 and Eilema sanguicosta var...

The genus Orieosia Bucsek, 2012 appears to be present in New Guinea too. Four species have been discovered in New Guinea to belong to this formerly believed to be Oriental genus. Two already known species, Lambula hypopolius Rothschild, 1916 and Utriculofera tetrastigmata Rothschild, 1916, are transferred to the genus Orieosia Bucsek, 2012. Orieosia stenoptera spec. nov. and O. albigrisea spec. nov. are described as new to science. Nomenclatorial confusion with Holocraspedon hypopolius (Rothschild, 1916) is discussed...

A new species in the genus Notata Hampson, 1891, N. kokoda spec. nov., is discovered from Papua New Guinea. An overview of the genus is given and the new species is described. Of all species pictures of the adults and genitalia are displayed.

A new species, Nephelomilta vinhphuciensis sp. nov. is described from Vietnam (Vinh Phuc province) along with the nominate species, N. sumatrana (van Eecke, 1927) newly recorded from Thailand (Ranong province). Illustrations of adults and male genitalia of the examined species are presented.

The Asiatic footman moth genus Tarika Moore, 1878, which used to be considered as monotypic is reviewed. Six new species are described: T. annapurna sp. n. (Сentral Nepal), T. erlanga sp. n. (China: Sichuan), T. reducta sp. n. (North Thailand), T. danieli sp. n. (China: Yunnan, Sichuan, Fujian, Shandong), T. kinha sp. n. (North Vietnam and China: Yunnan), and T. biserratula sp. n. (China: Hunan). Lectotypes are designated for Lithosia varana Moore, 1865 and Tarika nivea Moore, 1878. Adults, male and female genitalia are illustrated...

The following new species are described: Calonotos flemingi new species from Trinidad; Valvaminor jacerda new species from Trinidad and Venezuela. The following species are made subspecies new status: Calonotos tripunctata Druce, 1898 of C. aterrima (Sepp, 1847); Calonotos craneae Fleming, 1957 of Calonotos helymus (Cramer, 1775). The following subspecies is raised to species new status: Cosmosoma bolivarensis Klages, 1906 (formerly Cosmosoma achemon var. bolivarensis). The following are new combinations: Myrmecopsis kenedyae (Fleming, 1957) (Euchromiina) (formerly Pseudosphex kenedyae Ctenuchina); Valvaminor endoleuca (Druce, 1905) (formerly Mesothen endoleuca); Xanthyda beebei (Fleming, 1957) (formerly Pheia beebei); Eucerioides obliquifascia (Rothschild, 1912) (formerly Eucereon obliquifascia); Uranophora andrei (Rothschild, 1912) (formerly Ctenucha andrei)...

The genus Pseudopoliosia Krüger, 2015 is recorded for the first time in Gabon. Two new species are described, and a checklist and keys to the species are provided.

The pollination and the breeding system of Epidendrum densiflorum (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) were studied through fieldwork and controlled pollinations in cultivated plants. Pollination is exclusively promoted by males of diurnal Lepidoptera: five species of Arctiinae and four of Ithomiinae were recorded as pollinators. These male insects are known to obtain alkaloids (through the nectar) in flowers of Asteraceae and Boraginaceae. However, the flowers of E. densiflorum are nectarless, despite presenting a cuniculus (a likely nectariferous cavity)...

Tiger moth species vary greatly in the number of clicks produced and their resultant duty cycle. Signals with higher duty cycles are expected to more effectively interfere with bat sonar. However, little is known about the minimum duty cycle of tiger moth signals for sonar jamming. Is there a threshold that allows us to classify moths as acoustically aposematic versus sonar jammers based on their duty cycles? We performed playback experiments with three wild-caught adult male bats, Eptesicus fuscus. Bat attacks on tethered moths were challenged using acoustic signals of Bertholdia trigona with modified duty cycles ranging from 0-46%...

Three new species of the genus Miltochrista Hbner, [1819] are described: M. idiomorfa sp. n. (India, Nepal, N Myanmar and SW China), M. dankana sp. n. (India and north-western Myanmar) and M. etalina sp. n. (Northeast India). Miltochrista straminea Walker, 1856, stat. rev. is restored to species level. The lectotype for Miltochrista straminea is designated. Adults, male and female genitalia of the new and similar species are illustrated.

A new species of Apisa Walker, 1855 from Uganda (East Africa) and Gabon (Central Africa) is described according to morphological characters and DNA barcode information. A diagnosis, detailed description, distribution, and illustrations of specimens and the male genitalia are provided. Diagnostic characters are found in wing shape, strongly marked wing venation and details of the male genital apparatus. The DNA barcode sequences of twelve specimens of A. atrovenosa sp. n. are compared with other members of Apisa...