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Gonçalves, Ana Carla, Ouhammoud, Ahmed, Amirouche, Rachid, Santos, Conceição, Figueiredo, Estrela, Silveira, Paulo (2023): A taxonomic revision of Calendula (Asteraceae) in Morocco, including some taxa from Algeria and Tunisia. Phytotaxa 605 (1): 1-83, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.605.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.605.1.1

Within the genus Hylaeus subgenus Deranchylaeus, from sub-Saharan Africa, a distinctive new subgroup of species is established. The females of this subgroup share a striking character: the orange-coloured lower face, previously known only in H. xanthostoma. The inter-specific differences are cryptic in both sexes. Seven species are newly described: Hylaeus (Deranchylaeus) aurantiacus sp. nov. ♀♂, H. (D.) burundis sp. nov. ♂, H. (D.) lyriformis sp. nov. ♂, H. (D.) sambiensis sp. nov. ♂, H. (D.) portokalius sp. nov. ♂♀, H. (D.) diastictus sp. nov. ♂ and H. (D.) jemeniticus sp. nov. ♀. This subgroup also includes H. (D.) promontorii (Meade-Waldo, 1923) and H. (D.) venustus Dathe, 2014, whose females are described for the first time. From Cameroon, the male of a second species of the subgenus Pumilaeus is described as new: H. (Pumilaeus) soukontouai sp. nov. New records of species of the genus Hylaeus F. in sub-Saharan Africa are added and a revised identification key to the subgenus Deranchylaeus is presented, to include the new species.

We studied the types of sensilla on the pectinated antennae of Ctenoceratoda species (Noctuinae, Hadenini) using scanning electron microscopy. These ultrastructures are described, illustrated and analysed in four distinct species groups of the genus. The group features distinguishing the four lineages of the genus and their taxonomic importance are discussed.

Beyond Asilidae: The collecting effort of Dr Jason Londt as represented by non-Asilidae Diptera, Hemiptera and Mecoptera, housed in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, South Africa

Hamodes zhipengi sp. nov. [Chinese name: ṪḂẹãḋ] Figs 1,2,5,6 Type material. Holotype: male, CHINA, Guangdong province, Qingyuan city, Shimentai National Nature Reserve, altitude 126m, 11-Ⅴ-2021, leg. M. Wang (voucher number “ SCAU HA09 ”). Paratype: 1 female: with the same data as holotype (voucher number “ SCAU HA10 ”), 2 male, 1 female: CHINA, Guangdong province, Shaoguan city, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 22- Ⅴ -2021, leg. M. Wang (voucher number “ SCAU HA11 ”, “ SCAU HA12 ”, “ SCAU HA13 ”), 2 males: CHINA, Hubei province, Shennongjia National Park, 13-VIII-2018 (voucher number “ SCAU HA34 ”, “ SCAU HA35 ”), 1 female: CHINA, Guangdong province, Shaoguan city, Ruyuan county, altitude 500m, 22-IX-2018, leg. Z.P. Miu & F.H. Wei (voucher number “ SCAU HA15 ”), 1 female: CHINA, Guizhou province, Tongren city, Shiqian county, Fodingshan Natural Reserve, altitude 617m, 03- Ⅴ -2018 (voucher number “ SCAU HA05 ”). Diagnosis. The new species is morphologically resembled H. pseudobutleri, but the wings ground colour is darker; subapical ventral section of valvae semi-membranous (sclerotized in pseudobutleri); valvae slender (broad in pseudobutleri); ampullae slender and elongated (short in pseudobutleri); ductus shorter and thicker (slender in pseudobutleri); bursa bigger (smaller and rounded in pseudobutleri). However, the Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree of Hamodes (Fig. 9) shows that the new species is most closely related to H. butleri which is unexpected. Within the genus, nine individuals of H. zhipengi are recovered in a clade with strong support (UFBoot= 98). The pairwise Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) distances between the species in Hamodes range from 4.96% to 9.95%, and the distances between H. zhipengi and relatives, H. hainana, H. pseudobutleri and H. butleri are 5.21%, 5.27% and 6.37%, respectively (Table. 2). Description. Male (Fig. 1). Length of forewing 11.8 mm.Antennae filiform, dark brown; labial palpus brownish; thorax brown, tegulae brown; abdomen dorsally brown in 1 st- 4 th segments, black in 5 th- 8 th segments. Forewing ground colour fuscous brown, scattered with tiny black scales; outer marginal area darker than inner area; antemedial line blackish-grey straight and irregular, extending from costa to 1A+2A; medial line black and obscure, extending from costa to vein R 5 and followed by a crescent-like reniform stigma; orbicular stigma black, dot-like; postmedial line black and obscure, extending from costa to vein R 4; submarginal line blackish brown defined with fine ochreous-whitish line at inner side. Hindwing ground colour same as forewing, median line black extending from Rs vein to middle of anal margin, defined by ochreous-whitish inner stripe, discal spot fine, bar-shaped, dark grey. Male genitalia (Fig. 5). Uncus slender and hook-shaped; tegumen narrow; valvae long and narrow, subapical ventral semi-membranous; ampullae slender and hook-shaped, left slightly shorter than right; costa sclerotized; saccus small; aedeagus thick and long, with sclerotized lamellae. Female (Fig. 2). Wingspan 11.2 mm. Compared with the male adult, the ground colour of the wings is lighter, fasciae and stigmata are dimmer; abdomen dorsally brown. Female genitalia (Fig. 6). Anal papillae thick and long; anterior and posterior apophyses slender; ductus bursae long, flattened tubular, dilated anteriorly, partly strongly and smoothly sclerotised; appendix bursae membranous, slightly helicoidal; corpus bursae membranous, finely and irregularly scobinate. Distribution. China: Guangdong, Hubei, Guizhou. Etymology. This species is named after Mr. Zhipeng Miu in honour of his contribution to the Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University.

Hamodes zhipengi sp. nov. [Chinese name: ṪḂẹãḋ] Figs 1,2,5,6 Type material. Holotype: male, CHINA, Guangdong province, Qingyuan city, Shimentai National Nature Reserve, altitude 126m, 11-Ⅴ-2021, leg. M. Wang (voucher number “ SCAU HA09 ”). Paratype: 1 female: with the same data as holotype (voucher number “ SCAU HA10 ”), 2 male, 1 female: CHINA, Guangdong province, Shaoguan city, Nanling National Nature Reserve, 22- Ⅴ -2021, leg. M. Wang (voucher number “ SCAU HA11 ”, “ SCAU HA12 ”, “ SCAU HA13 ”), 2 males: CHINA, Hubei province, Shennongjia National Park, 13-VIII-2018 (voucher number “ SCAU HA34 ”, “ SCAU HA35 ”), 1 female: CHINA, Guangdong province, Shaoguan city, Ruyuan county, altitude 500m, 22-IX-2018, leg. Z.P. Miu & F.H. Wei (voucher number “ SCAU HA15 ”), 1 female: CHINA, Guizhou province, Tongren city, Shiqian county, Fodingshan Natural Reserve, altitude 617m, 03- Ⅴ -2018 (voucher number “ SCAU HA05 ”). Diagnosis. The new species is morphologically resembled H. pseudobutleri, but the wings ground colour is darker; subapical ventral section of valvae semi-membranous (sclerotized in pseudobutleri); valvae slender (broad in pseudobutleri); ampullae slender and elongated (short in pseudobutleri); ductus shorter and thicker (slender in pseudobutleri); bursa bigger (smaller and rounded in pseudobutleri). However, the Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree of Hamodes (Fig. 9) shows that the new species is most closely related to H. butleri which is unexpected. Within the genus, nine individuals of H. zhipengi are recovered in a clade with strong support (UFBoot= 98). The pairwise Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) distances between the species in Hamodes range from 4.96% to 9.95%, and the distances between H. zhipengi and relatives, H. hainana, H. pseudobutleri and H. butleri are 5.21%, 5.27% and 6.37%, respectively (Table. 2). Description. Male (Fig. 1). Length of forewing 11.8 mm.Antennae filiform, dark brown; labial palpus brownish; thorax brown, tegulae brown; abdomen dorsally brown in 1 st- 4 th segments, black in 5 th- 8 th segments. Forewing ground colour fuscous brown, scattered with tiny black scales; outer marginal area darker than inner area; antemedial line blackish-grey straight and irregular, extending from costa to 1A+2A; medial line black and obscure, extending from costa to vein R 5 and followed by a crescent-like reniform stigma; orbicular stigma black, dot-like; postmedial line black and obscure, extending from costa to vein R 4; submarginal line blackish brown defined with fine ochreous-whitish line at inner side. Hindwing ground colour same as forewing, median line black extending from Rs vein to middle of anal margin, defined by ochreous-whitish inner stripe, discal spot fine, bar-shaped, dark grey. Male genitalia (Fig. 5). Uncus slender and hook-shaped; tegumen narrow; valvae long and narrow, subapical ventral semi-membranous; ampullae slender and hook-shaped, left slightly shorter than right; costa sclerotized; saccus small; aedeagus thick and long, with sclerotized lamellae. Female (Fig. 2). Wingspan 11.2 mm. Compared with the male adult, the ground colour of the wings is lighter, fasciae and stigmata are dimmer; abdomen dorsally brown. Female genitalia (Fig. 6). Anal papillae thick and long; anterior and posterior apophyses slender; ductus bursae long, flattened tubular, dilated anteriorly, partly strongly and smoothly sclerotised; appendix bursae membranous, slightly helicoidal; corpus bursae membranous, finely and irregularly scobinate. Distribution. China: Guangdong, Hubei, Guizhou. Etymology. This species is named after Mr. Zhipeng Miu in honour of his contribution to the Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University., Published as part of Zhang, Yu-Long, Wei, Fuhong, Fan, Xiaoling & Wang, Min, 2023, A new species of Hamodes Guenée, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) from China, pp. 593-598 in Zootaxa 5270 (3) on pages 594-597, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.3.10, http://zenodo.org/record/7859718, {"references":["Wei, F. H. & Wang, M. (2019) Two new species of the genus Hamodes Guenee, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Erebinae) from China, with notes on a new record in mainland China. Zootaxa, 4590 (5), 594 - 600. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4590.5.7"]}

Dubatolov, V.V., Zinchenko, V.K, Ustjuzhanin, P.Ya. (2023): Autumn moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) new for the fauna of Kunashir Island. Far Eastern Entomologist 474: 11-24, DOI: 10.25221/fee.474.3, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.25221/fee.474.3

A new species of parasitoid wasp (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is described, Microplitis idreesaesp. nov. The genus is reported for the first time in the Eastern province of the KSA. This is the first host-parasitoid association for Microplitis documented in the country. The new species attacks Mythimna Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Natural history information is provided such as the association of males with females, geographical location, possible food plants, and details of wasp cocoons. In addition, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene is presented. A taxonomic key to the species of Microplitis reported from the KSA is provided. Characters of this new species and its affinities with the three previous species described from the KSA and four of the closely related to Palaeartic species are also discussed.

Leucania mopan Adams and McCabe new species Figs. 2 (imago), 15 (valvae), 16 (endophallus), 35 (bursa copulatrix) Material examined. Dissections examined (5♁♁, 2♀♀). Type material: Holotype male. BELIZE: Cayo: Mountain Pine Ridge, 1000’ Falls, 17.060529,- 88. 848458, 623m, 26–30 May 1990, L.C. Dow, dissection TLM♁6326 (deposited in NYSM). Paratypes. (28♁♁, 8♀♀) BELIZE: Cayo: Mountain Pine Ridge, 1000’ Falls, 17.060529,- 88. 848458, 623m, 15 May 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3406, 22–24 May 1990, L.C. Dow 10♁♁, 3♀♀, dissections MSA♁2408, MSA ♀ 2409, 26-30 May 1990, L.C. Dow, 3♁♁, 2♀♀, 13–16 Jun 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♁, 2-3 Jul 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6329 (NYSM); Granite Cairn, 17.043169, -88.864088, 702m, 15 Jun 1990, M.S. Adams, 1♁, 1 Jul 1990 L.C. Dow, 3♁♁ (NYSM); no specific locality, 16.956938, -88.979678, 625m, M.S. Adams 6♁♁, 1♀ (NYSM); Stann Creek, Cockscomb Basin Sanctuary, Jaguar Reserve, 16.780801, -88.458902, 71m, 10–12 May 1990, M.S. Adams, 1♁, 1♀, 4-9 Jun 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♁, 18–19 Jun 1990, M.S. Adams, 1♁, dissection TLM♁6317 (NYSM). GUATEMALA: Alto Verapez, Chejel, 15.283333, -90.050000, 287m, 1♁, dissection MSA US♁180 (USNM). Diagnosis. The Belizean endemic L. mopan bears a close resemblance to its sibling species, the widespread Central American L. albifasciata (Hampson, 1905) (Fig. 1), from which the habitus differs in having a generally paler rufous forewing. The hind wing of both sexes of L. mopan are infuscated with brown scales contrasting with the pure white hind wing of L. albifasciata. Both species have basal abdominal eversible tubular structures and a lappet (Fig. 13) (an inflatable flap on the outside of the valva). The ornamentation of the everted endophallus separates L. mopan from L. albifasciata (Fig. 14). Both species have a small cluster of short, stout cornuti at the proximal end of the endophallus, which is a simple straight tube bent medially at a right angle, at which point there are three long cornuti. Beyond this point, on L. mopan, the endophallus is unadorned except for an array of four or five retrorse cornuti proximal to the primary gonopore. In contrast, L. albifasciata has the endophallus adorned by a single, long row of cornuti, which continues to the primary gonopore. The appendix bursae of L. mopan is straight (Fig. 35) whereas that of L. albifasciata has.a sharp angle at midpoint (Fig. 36). Description. (Fig. 2) Wingspan 35–38 mm. Head, palpi, frons, and thorax pale rufous. Tegulae and patagia pale rufous with dusting of black scales. No scale tufts on male fore- and mid-tibiae. Abdomen paler ventrally with dusting of black scales. Forewing pale rufous with dusting of black scales. White-scaled cubital vein bisects forewing and broadens at distal end of cell where it curves around inferior distal margin of reniform (represented by black dot). Cubital vein a narrow white line subtended by dark shade along its entire length. Forewing with faint darker stripe adjacent to white-scaled second anal vein. Postmedial (p.m.) line a curving row of small black dots on veins. Pale oblique fascia subtended by dark wedge from vein M3 to wing apex. Forewing with row of fine black terminal points. Fringe dark. Hind wing off-white, infuscated with dark scales on veins and along costal margin. A field of black specks on sub-costal margin of underside of both fore and hind wing. Basal abdominal eversible tubular structures present. Male genitalia. (Figs. 15 & 16). Uncus slightly dilated, terminating in well-defined, claw-like tip; tegumen and vinculum unmodified; valva broad with few non-deciduous setae on margin and with an inflatable flap (lappet) on outside of valva; cucullus distinctively short and broad with non-deciduous setae on its outer margin; pore plate present at valvulus (base of cucullus); ampulla short and thin; editum conspicuous below ampulla; digitus short and sharp pointed; clasper an elongate, acutely curved projection, extending almost to shoulder of valva margin; claval area of sacculus smooth and unmodified; phallus a simple straight tube. Everted endophallus with small cluster of short, stout cornuti at proximal section followed by a simple straight tube bent medially at a right angle, three long cornuti near bend; distal portion of endophallus mostly unadorned except for an array of four or five retrorse cornuti at the primary gonopore. Female genitalia. (Fig. 35) Ductus bursae extending from ostium bursae as a straight tube until an angle at junction with appendix bursae. Appendix bursae sclerotized and extending beyond ductus bursae. Corpus bursae sac-like and thin-walled, arising at juncture of ductus bursae and appendix bursae. Global Distribution. Belize (type locality), Guatemala. Etymology. The specific epithet mopan is in recognition of the dialect of the Yucatanian Branch of the Mayan language. Food plant. Unknown. Larva. Unknown. Remarks. Leucania mopan appears to be a narrow endemic to the pre-montane [650–700m] pine savanna of the Mountain Pine Ridge of Belize and Guatemala. This small (less than 3000 km 2) ecoregion is recognized by the World Wildlife Fund as Critical/Endangered (Dinerstein, et al., 1995). The principal physical factors of this habitat include xeric, acidic, nutrient-poor soil and periodic low intensity burns (Johnson & Chaffey, 1973). The predominant tree is the endemic variety of Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis (Sénéciauze) W.H. Barrett & Golfari). Other characteristic plants include: Crescentia cujete L.(Calabash tree), Quercus spp., Curatella americana L. (Chaparro), Byrsonima crassifolia H.B.K. (Manteco), and Acoelorraphe wrightii (Griseb. & H. Wendl.) H. Wendl. ex Becc. (Paurotis palm) (Corrales, et al., 2015; Hampshire, 1988; Laughlin, 2002). The canopy is open with many low shrubs and open savanna areas with grasses, sedges and a variety of herbs., Published as part of Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 250-266 in Zootaxa 5256 (3) on pages 251-252, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7751414, {"references":["Hampson, G. F. (1905) Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Vol. 5. Taylor and Francis, London, 634 + xvi pp., pls. 78 - 95.","Johnson, M. S. & Chaffey, D. R. (1973) A forest inventory of part of the Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize, Land Resource Study. No. 13. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Overseas Development Administration, Surrey, 120 pp.","Hampshire, R. J. (1988) Belize. In: Campbell, D. G. & Hammond, H. P. (Eds.), Floristic inventory of tropical countries. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, pp. 288 - 289.","Laughlin, D. C. (2002) Flora of the pine savanna at Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. Caribbean Journal of Science, 38 (1 - 2), 151 - 155."]}

Leucania championi Adams and McCabe new species Figs. 10 (imago), 31 (valvae), 32 (endophallus), 44 (bursa copulatrix) Leucania humidicola (not Guenée, 1852: 90). Troubridge, 2020: Fig. 102 [Misidentification]. Leucania februalis (not Hill, 1924: 186, Fig.17). Troubridge, 2020: Fig. 101 [Misidentification]. Mythimna solita (not Walker, 1856: 99). Hayes, 1975, page 168–169, Fig. 43. [Misidentification]. Material examined. Dissections examined (7♁♁, 9♀♀). Type material: Holotype male. GUATEMALA: Fuentes Georginas, 14.748972, -91.480310, 2455m, 13–16 Feb 2007, 1♁, T. McCabe, dissection TLM♁6056 (deposited in NYSM); Paratypes. (21♁♁, 14♀♀). MEXICO: Chiapas; Tapilula, 21 May, 1969, A. Matuura, 1♁, dissection MSA♁CNC11 (CNC); Durango; Pueblo Nuevo, 10 km W El Salto, 02 Aug 1969, J.E.H. Martin, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 3907 (CNC); Chiapas: San Cristóbal, 13 May 1969. J.E.H. Martin, 1♀, (CNC); Oaxaca: Sola de Vega, Llano Verde, 16.5652,- 973639, 825m, 07 Jul 1977, J.E. Rawlins, 2♁♁, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 251 (CMNH); 55 km N Putia, 1♁ (CMNH); 15 Aug 1986, 1♁(CMHH), Tlaxiaco, 3 mi N Tlaxiaco, 17.312765, -97.681532, 2438m, H. Romack, 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6065 (TLM); Ixtia, Guelatao de Juárez, 18 Aug 1969, L.A. Kelton, 1♁ (CMNH); Puebla: Puebla, no specific locality, 20 Jun 1920, C.C. Hoffmann, 1♁ (CMNH); Michoacan: Chupicuara, 13 Jul 1977, J.E. Rawlins, 1♁ (CMNH); San Luis Petosi, Querótaro, 24–25 Jul 1982, J.E. Rawlins, 1♁ (CMNH); Baja California Sur: La Paz, Guaycura Hotel, 05 Dec 1961, 1♁ (CMNH); Sierra Madre Oriental: nr. Bajan, 26.569722,- 101.221389, 960m, 16 Jul 1992, T. McCabe, 1♁ (TLM); Cuatrocienagos, Dunes, 26.843333, -102.183889, 16 Jul 1992, T. McCabe, 1♁, dissection TLM♁5280 (TLM). COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa National Park, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 10–12 Jul 1979, D. Janzen, 3♁♁, 1♀, dissections MSA♁297, MSA ♀ 296; 9-12 Aug 1977, 1♁, 1♀ dissections MSA ♁301, MSA ♀ 302; 14 Jan 1978, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 298, (NYSM), Guanacaste, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 1♁ 07-SRNP-102951, D. Janzen, dissection TLM ♁6028 (USNM), 1♀, 07-SRNP-104287, dissection TLM ♀ 6029 (USNM); no locality or date specified, Cooper, 1♁ (CMNH). GUATEMALA: [Quetzaltenango]: Fuentes Georginas, 14.748972, -91.480310, 2455m, 13–16 Feb 2007, 1♁, T. McCabe; Fuentes Georginas, 8 km SE Zunil, 14.748972, -91.479722, 2313m, 14–15 Feb 2007, M.S. Adams, 1♁ (NYSM); 26 Feb 2007, 1♀ (TLM); [Suchitepéquez: Paulul], Los Tarrales Natural Reserve, 14.522925, -91.136243, 1400m, 22 Jul 2009, T. McCabe 2♀ (TLM), 1♀ 11 Feb 2007 (TLM), 22 July 2009, 1♀ dissection TLM ♀ 6479; NICARAGUA: Matagalpa, Fuente Pura, 12 km N Matagalpa, 8–9 Jan 1994, E. van den Berghe, 1♁ (CMNH); Selva Nigra, 29 Dec 1993, E. van den Berghe, 1♀ (CMNH); ECUADOR: Imbabura, Valle de la Chota, 16 km W Ambuqui, 17 Nov 1987, R. Davidson, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 3903 (CMNH); VENEZEULA: Aragua: Maracay, 5–11 Jul 1981, B. LaLanne-Cassou, 1♁, dissection MSA♁2027 (NYSM). Diagnosis. Solely on the basis of habitus, it is probably impossible to distinguish L. championi from L. humidicola Guenée, 1852 (Fig. 11) consistently. The forewing of L. championi is usually not as bright and contrasting as L. humidicola but otherwise similar. Males of both species have distinctive heavily tufted fore- and mid-tibia. The range of L. championi extends from Mexico to northwestern South America, and potentially overlaps L. humidicola in northern Mexico. The genitalia of both sexes are distinctive. In L. championi the extended basal sclerite of the clasper is attenuated into a sharp point, which reaches beyond the margin of the valva. In L. humidicola this structure is shorter and bluntly upturned to the mid-margin (Fig. 29). In L. championi the everted endophallus initially is a simple tube but has an unadorned pyramid-shaped diverticulum at approximately one-third of its length from base, followed by a single row of robust retrorse cornuti, which extends to the gonopore. In L. humidicola the everted endophallus (Fig. 30) is distinguished by a long narrow diverticulum, which arises near the base and ends in a long pointed cornutus. In both L. championi and L. humidicola (Fig. 43) the appendix bursae arises near the ostium bursae, however the ductus bursae in L. championi is a short straight tube ending in a sac-like corpus bursae whereas in L. humidicola this structure is long and ends in a twisted loop before entering the corpus bursae. Description. (Fig. 10) Wingspan 35–38 mm. Male palpi with dark scales, female palpi tan without dark scales; frons light tan. Thorax tan with three patagia bands, first band with brown scales, middle band less distinct, posterior band with distinct black-tipped scales; tegula and thorax tan; scale tufts on male fore- and mid-tibiae. Forewing ground light brown; cubital vein white scaled with brown shade for entire length; reniform reduced to a black dot at end of cell; p.m. line indicated by dots at veins, strongest at veins M1 and Cu2; veins white; terminal dots present. Hind wing of male pearly white, the female hind wing white, infuscated near margin. Ventral forewing light tan, darker in subcostal area. Ventral hind wing pearly white, costal margin tan. Abdomen light tan, shaggy; male basal abdominal eversible tubular structures present. Sexes similar, except female hind wing slightly darker near margin. Male genitalia. (Figs. 31 & 32) Uncus, tegumen, and vinculum unmodified; cucullus short and rounded with a single row of fine non-deciduous setae in sockets on the lateral margin of both cucullus and valva; a large pore plate present at valvulus; ampulla thick and hook-like; digitus short and thick; editum inconspicuous; top of clasper sharp and hooked, whereas the basal sclerite produced into a long, straight, attenuated, sharp-pointed projection reaching or exceeding margin of valva; claval area of the sacculus with a slight prominence. Phallus long, thin and straight; everted endophallus with a short, pointed diverticulum at one-third length from base followed by a row of stout, retrorse cornuti, which extends to the gonopore. Female genitalia. (Fig. 44) Ductus bursae basally short and thick. Sclerotized appendix bursae branching to left and becoming sac-like, ending in ductus seminalis; ductus bursae continuing beyond the origin of the appendix bursae with a short, straight portion before entering thin walled, sac-like corpus bursae. Global distribution. Mexico, Guatemala (type locality), Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador including Galápagos Islands (vide Hayes, 1975, as Mythimna solita). Food plant. Seaside Dropseed Sporobolus virginicus (Linnaeus) Kunth was reported as food plant of L. championi (as M. solita) on the Galápagos Islands (vide Hayes, 1975). Seaside Dropseed is a perennial tussock grass of coastal marshes, dunes, and beaches of tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. Larva. Hayes (1975) described the larva as follows: “Head gray with brown reticulation. Body reddish brown with darker markings and diffuse white lines.” Etymology. The specific epithet “championi ” honors George Charles Champion FLS (b.1851–d.1927) who collected specimens in Guatemala in 1879 for the “Biologia Centrali-Americana” (Selander & Vaurie, 1962). Today we are faced with increasingly limited access to collecting at a time of precipitous declines in biodiversity. We wish to call attention to the often overlooked contribution of collectors who document our natural heritage. Remarks. We have not verified L. humidicola from Mexico, however as it occurs in California and Texas it undoubtedly also occurs in Mexico. We recognize two new junior synonyms of L. humidicola: Leucania februalis Hill, 1924, New Synonym, and Leucania elephas Troubridge, 2020, New Synonym. Leucania championi has been misidentified as L. humidicola in a recent publication (Troubridge, 2020). We reiterate the necessity of examination of types of all available names. The practice of wantonly ignoring primary types and junior synonyms leads to the generation of more synonyms hindering biodiversity research. Guatemala specimens of L. championi with Janzen codes 07-SRNP-102951 and 07-SRNP-10487 were sequenced in BOLD under the name Leucania februalis., Published as part of Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 250-266 in Zootaxa 5256 (3) on pages 258-265, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7751414, {"references":["Troubridge, J. T. (2020) A new genus and 37 new noctuid species from peninsular Florida and the Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea). Insecta Mundi, 0789, 1 - 56. http: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 4585782","Walker, F. (1856) List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Vol. 9. Edward Newman, London, 252 pp.","Hayes, A. H. (1975) The larger moths of the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Science, Series 4, 33 (7), 145 - 208.","Selander, R. B. & Vaurie, P. (1962) A gazetteer to accompany the Insecta volumes of the Biologia Centrali-Americana, American Museum Novitates, No. 2099, 1 - 70."]}

Leucania sororia McCabe & Adams, new species Figs. 8 (imago), 23 (valvae), 24 (endophallus), 40 (bursa copulatrix) Material examined. Dissections examined (3♁♁, 3♀♀). Type material: Holotype female. MEXICO, Oaxaca, 7 mi. S. Miahuitlan, 19 August 1992, 7,000’, H. Romack, dissection TLM ♀ 6308 (deposited in NYSM). Paratypes. (4♁♁, 3♀♀). MEXICO: Durango, 10 mi. W. of El Salto, 18 June 1964, J.E.H. Martin, 9000’, 4♁♁, 2♀♀, dissections TLM ♀ 6440, TLM ♁6436, MSA♁CNC1, MSA ♀ CNC2 (CNC); Oaxaca, 5 mi. S. Tlaxiaco, 5 August 1992, 7,000’, 1♁, H. Romack, dissection TLM♁6067 [NYSM]. Diagnosis. Leucania sororia bears a close resemblance in both habitus and genitalia to L. colorada (Fig. 7). Leucania sororia is gray-brown versus the red-brown of L. colorada. Another reliable diagnostic character is the configuration of the appendix bursae. The upward bent tip of the appendix bursae in L. sororia is much shorter and smaller than in L. colorada (Fig. 39). In the male genitalia, the digitus and clasper run parallel in L. sororia but are splayed apart in L. colorada (Fig. 21). Leucania sororia may be confused with L. oaxacana and L. complicata (see diagnosis of L. colorada). Based solely on habitus, L. oaxacana is not reliably separated from L. sororia. Leucania oaxacana has the white of the cubital vein thickened beneath the reniform whereas L. sororia typically has no thickening of the white at this location. The forewing color and pattern of L. sororia is also close to that of L. imperfecta Smith, 1894 (Fig. 9), but L. imperfecta has much lighter hind wings. Description. Wingspan 34–36 mm. Head, palpi, frons, thorax, patagia, tegula, and forewing gray-brown. No scale tufts on male fore- and mid-tibiae. Forewing with cubital vein clearly marked with white scales from base to reniform where it thickens (expands). Reniform above and adjacent to white-scaled cubital vein. White scales present below or rarely beyond the reniform. White scaling of cubital vein not thickened near reniform. Post-median line a curving row of small black dots on veins. Hind wings pale at base with brown marginal infuscation. Abdomen concolorous with hind wing margin. Ventral surface of hind wings duller and terminal dots more distinct than on dorsum. Eversible tubular structures present on ventrolateral aspect of male second abdominal segment. Male genitalia. (Figs. 23 & 24) Uncus with distal end spear-shaped and spiny, slightly thickened distally, and attenuated, but lacking a narrow claw-like tip. Tegumen and vinculum unmodified. Valva broad with inflatable flap (lappet) on the outside. Lappet, when fully inflated, extends well beyond valva margin. Cucullus short and broad with a row of numerous non-deciduous setae on outer margin. Pore plate well-developed. Ampulla short and thin. Editum conspicuous. Digitus short, sharp pointed, and typically parallel to clasper (see right valva in Fig. 23). Clasper an elongated projection extending almost to valva margin and terminating in upturned knob with acute point. Claval area of the sacculus wide, producing flat-topped bulge. Phallus a simple straight tube. Everted endophallus with finger-like diverticulum at one-third of its length from base, a patch of a few spines at base of diverticulum, another similar patch of spines between the diverticulum and the phallus. Distal half of endophallus with a long, somewhat irregular, double row of spines, proximal spines much longer than the others. Female genitalia. (Fig. 40) Ductus bursae extends from ostium bursae as a straight tube, sharply bent at appendix bursae. Corpus bursae arising following a narrow constriction, spherical, membranous. Striate appendix bursae folding back upon itself, overlapping ductus bursae for most of its length before terminating in a long, upturned prominence. Global distribution. Mexico (type locality). Etymology. The epithet “sororia” (soror Latin for sister) refers to the relationship to L. colorada. Food plant. Unknown. Larva. Unknown. Remarks. Leucania sororia and L. colorada are sympatric and synchronic at high elevations in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Leucania oaxacana Schaus, 1898 (syntype illustrated by Poole, 2022) occurs in Mexico and Central America and is easily confused with two of the newly described species (L. sororia and L. colorada) and with L. complicata. We have also examined L. complicata Strecker, 1898, Restored Status, from northern Mexico and southwestern USA (photograph of type examined). Previously treated as a synonym of L. oaxacana (Franclemont & Todd, 1983). Leucania complicata was misidentified as L. oaxacana by Poole (accessed 16 June 2022). Leucania complicata is a member of an informal “oaxacana group” that includes: Leucania oaxacana, L. albifasciata, L. colorada, L. sororia, L. mopan, and L. merga. Leucania imperfecta Smith, 1894, is sympatric with L. complicata in southwestern USA and northern Mexico and may be confused with species of the “ oaxacana ” group., Published as part of Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 250-266 in Zootaxa 5256 (3) on pages 256-258, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7751414, {"references":["Smith, J. B. (1894) Descriptions of new genera and species of Noctuidae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 21, 39 - 88, 6 pls.","Schaus, W. (1898) New species of Noctuidae from tropical America. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 6, 107 - 120.","Poole, R. W. (2022) Encyclopedia of Life, Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: genus Leucania. http: // www. nearctica. com (accessed 16 June 2022)","Strecker, F. H. H. (1898) Lepidoptera, Rhopoloceres, and Heteroceres. Indigenous and exotic. Supplement 1. Pa Owen's steam book and job printing office, Reading, 12 pp.","Franclemont, J. G. & Todd, E. L. (1983) Noctuidae. In Hodges, R. W., et al., Check list of the Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico. E. W. Classey, Ltd., Faringdon, pp. 284."]}

Leucania colorada McCabe & Adams new species Figs. 7 (imago), 21 (valvae), 22 (endophallus), 39 (bursa copulatrix) Material examined. Dissections examined (2♁♁, 2♀♀). Type material: Holotype female. MEXICO: 3 mi. N. Tlaxiaco, Tierra Azul, 7 August 1992, H. Romack, 7500’, dissection TLM ♀ 6362 (deposited in NYSM). Paratypes. (3♁♁, 1♀) MEXICO, Oaxaca: 5 mi. S. Tlaxiaco, Tierra Azul, 7 August 1992, H. Romack, 7000’, 3♁♁, dissections TLM♁6260 and TLM♁6361; 7 mi. S. Miahuitlan, 19 August 1992, H. Romack, 7000’, 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6276 (NYSM). Diagnosis. Leucania colorada bears a close resemblance to L. sororia. Leucania colorada is red-brown versus the gray-brown of L. sororia. The white scaling on the cubital vein typically does not curve around the reniform in L. colorada, as it does in L. sororia. The valvae are similar, but the tip of the clasper in L. colorada is blunt and bent ventrally, whereas in L. sororia there is a pointed tip that is bent dorsally (Figs. 21 vs. 23). In habitus, L. colorada is like L. complicata Strecker, 1898 (Figs. 5 & 6) and L. oaxacana Schaus, 1898 (Fig. 3). The endophalli of L. colorada and L. sororia have elongate fingerlike diverticula lacking in L. oaxacana (Fig. 34) and L. complicata (Fig. 28). Leucania complicata lacks the white scaling on the cubital vein; it also has a unique spur at the apex of the phallus (Fig. 28). Leucania oaxacana has a much smaller costal lobe of the sacculus (Fig. 33). Leucania colorada has an appendix bursae that is barely upturned at its tip whereas L. sororia (Fig. 40) has an appendix bursae that is longer and doubles back on itself. Description. (Fig. 7) Wingspan 32–36 mm. Head, palpi, thorax, patagia, tegula, and forewings reddish-brown. No scale tufts on male fore- and mid-tibiae. Forewing cubital vein clearly marked with white scales from base to reniform, after which vein thickens distally. White scales on cubital vein typically not extending above bottom of reniform. Post-medial line a curving row of small black dots on veins. Hind wing pale at base with brown infuscation towards margin. Abdomen concolorous with hind wing margins. Ventral surface of both fore and hind wing duller than dorsal surface and terminal dots more distinct. Pair of eversible tubular structures present on ventrolateral aspect of male second abdominal segment. Male genitalia. (Figs. 21 & 22) Uncus with spear-shaped spiny terminus, only slightly thickened and attenuated distally, lacks a narrow claw-like tip. Tegumen and vinculum unmodified. Lappet inflates beyond the margin of valva; cucullus short and broad with row of non-deciduous setae on outer margin; valvular pore plate large; ampulla short and thin, editum conspicuous below ampulla, digitus short, sharp-pointed, and widely splayed in respect to clasper; clasper an elongated projection extending almost to valva margin and terminating in a blunt knob. Claval area of sacculus wide, producing a flat-topped bulge. Phallus a simple straight tube. Everted endophallus with a basal patch of spines followed by a finger-like diverticulum at about one-third of its length, at base of diverticulum a similar patch of a few spines. A long, somewhat irregular double row of spines covering distal half of endophallus, most proximal of these spines much longer than the others. Female genitalia. (Fig. 39) Ductus bursae extending from ostium bursae as a straight tube before sharp turn into appendix bursae. At base of the turn a spherical, membranous, corpus bursae arises after a narrow constriction. Appendix bursae striated, folded back upon itself and splayed in relation to ductus bursae. A small portion of the appendix bursae overlaps the ductus bursae in ventral view, terminating in a short, upturned prominence. Global Distribution. Mexico (type locality). Etymology. The specific epithet colorada refers to the muddy reddish color of the moth. Food plant. Unknown. Larva. Unknown. Remarks. Leucania colorada and L. sororia can be sympatric and synchronic at high elevation in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. A female was chosen as holotype as the tip of the appendix bursa is the most diagnostic feature., Published as part of Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 250-266 in Zootaxa 5256 (3) on page 255, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7751414, {"references":["Strecker, F. H. H. (1898) Lepidoptera, Rhopoloceres, and Heteroceres. Indigenous and exotic. Supplement 1. Pa Owen's steam book and job printing office, Reading, 12 pp.","Schaus, W. (1898) New species of Noctuidae from tropical America. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 6, 107 - 120."]}

Leucania merga Adams and McCabe new species Figs. 4 (imago), 17 (valvae), 18 (endophallus), 37 (bursa copulatrix) Material examined. Dissections examined ( 13♁♁, 5♀♀). Type material: Holotype male. GUATEMALA: Alta Verapaz: Biotopo del Quetzal, 15.191822, -90.212461, 1700m, 1♁, dissection TLM♁4385 (deposited in NYSM); Paratypes. (36♁♁, 11♀♀) COSTA RICA Guanacaste, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 10-SRNP-114591, D. Janzen, 1♁ dissection TLM♁6020 (USNM), 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6021 (USNM); Puntarenas: Monteverde, Pension Quetzal, 10.316877, -84.822019, 13880m, 14–21 Apr 1990, T. McCabe, 10–21 Feb 2007, T. McCabe, 10♁♁, dissection TLM♁1818 (TLM). GUATEMALA:: Alta Verapaz: Biotopo del Quetzal, 15.191822, -90.212461, 1700m, 3♁ (TLM); Suchitepéquez: Patulul, Los Tarrales Natural Res., 14.522925, -91.136243, 758m, 22 Jul 2009, T. Mc-Cabe, 1♁, 23–24 May 2014, T. McCabe, 1♀ (TLM); Quetzaltenango: Fuentes Georgina, Volcan Zunil, 14.748972,- 91.48031, 2420m, 4–5 Oct 2012, T. McCabe, 1♁, dissection TLM♁4827, 13-21 Feb 2007, T. McCabe, 4♀♀, (TLM) 1 dissection TLM ♀ 6484; Bosqueren de Majades, 15.54411, -92.36025, 2933m, 6 Oct 2012, T. McCabe, 1♁ (TLM); Sacatapequez, Antigua, 25–29 Feb 1992, P.J. Landolt, 1♁, dissection MSA♁2900 (NYSM). NICARAGUA: Matagalpa: Selva Negra, 12.99698, -85.91395, 1300m, 10 Nov 2010, T. McCabe, 1♀ (TLM). MEXICO: Oaxaca: 7 mi S Miahuatian, 16.241039, -96.542979, 1672m, 19 Aug 1992, H. Romack, 1♁ (TLM); Loxicha, 20 km N Candelaria, 1585m, 22–23 Jul 1993, P.J. Landolt, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3149 (NYSM); Mitla, 19 Aug 1969, L.A. Kelton, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ CNC22; (CNC); Querétaro: 15 mi W Xilitia, 1585m, 31 Jul 1992, P.J. Landolt, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3148; Vera Cruz: Las Minas, near Permet, 1200m, 18 Jul 1993, P.J. Landolt,1♁, dissection MSA♁3190, 18 Jul 1993, P.J. Landolt, 1♀, dissection, MSA ♀ 3191 (NYSM); Chiapas: El Bosque, 1♁, dissection MSA♁CNC19; Bochii, 24 Jul 1969, L.A. Kelton, 2♁♁; San Christóbal, Las Casas, 2295m, 12 May 1969, J.E.H. Martin,1♁, 6 May 1969, J.E.H. Martin, 1♁, dissection MSA♁CNC3; no specific locality, 18 Jul 1969, D. Kritsch, 1♁; Tapilulu, 21 May 1969, A. Mutuura, 3♁♁; 9 mi SE Tropisco, 16 May 1969, J.E.H. Martin, 1♁, 1♀; Durango, 10 mi W El Salto, 2743m, 3 Aug 1964, J.E.H. Martin, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ CNC4 (CNC). ECUADOR: Zamora, Valladolid, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3593; Chinchipe, 3 km E Sabaanilla, Rio Zamora, 1610m, 1♀ dissection MSA ♀ 3896 (NYSM). VENEZUELA: no specific locality or date, 1♁ MSA♁2785; Aragua: Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande, 22-31 Aug 1967, R. Poole, 1♁, dissection MSA♁ US197 (USNM). Diagnosis. Leucania merga is compared to the widespread L. dorsalis Walker, 1856 (Fig. 12). Leucania merga typically has a black spot similar to p.m. dots, but below the mid portion of the cell. This black spot is lacking in L. dorsalis. Diagnostic genitalia characters are as follows: In L. merga the combination of a “pitchfork-like” digitus and basal sclerite of the clasper contrasts with the “spade-like” structure of these two elements in L. dorsalis (Fig. 19). The everted endophalli of the two species is also strikingly different (compare Fig. 18 with Fig. 20). In L. merga, after the basal straight portion the endophallus, makes a right angle capped by a diverticulum with a cluster of long, stiff cornuti. In L. dorsalis this structure is reduced to two small diverticula, one of which has a single hair-like cornutus. The terminal segment of the endophallus in L. merga has a row of robust, retrorse cornuti, which diminishes to a sparse row as it continues to the gonopore. In L. dorsalis this segment of the endophallus is completely unadorned. The bursae copulatrix are also distinct. In L. merga (Fig. 37) the ductus bursae is short and thick whereas in L. dorsalis (Fig. 38) the ductus bursae is long, narrow, and twisted. Description. (Fig. 4) Wingspan 34–36.5 mm. Head, palpi, frons, thorax, and tegulae light tan. Patagia with three bands, most anterior with brown scales, second less distinct, third with distinct, black-tipped scales; sex tufts present on male fore- and mid-tibia. Forewing light tan, veins with white interspaces with brown between veins, cubital vein white with faint brown shade along entire length, a black dot (not reniform) present at middle of cell below origin of vein Cu2; p.m. line not produced, apical shade faint, no terminal dots present. Hind wings of both sexes infuscated with some dark scaling on veins. Ventral forewing light tan, darker in subcostal area. Ventral hind wing with light infuscation. Abdomen light tan, shaggy. Sexes similar, except females somewhat darker. Males with basal abdominal eversible tubular structures. Male genitalia. (Figs. 17 & 18) Uncus slightly dilated before terminating in well-defined, claw-like tip; tegumen and vinculum unmodified; cucullus elongate and somewhat rectangular with row of marginal setae in sockets, pore plate present at valvulus; ampulla long and thin; digitus long and sharp-pointed; editum a conspicuous protuberance; basal sclerite of clasper produced into a sharp-pointed projection; claval area of sacculus unmodified. Phallus short and straight; proximal portion of everted endophallus unadorned followed by a right angle, then a diverticulum adorned by clump of long, sharp spines, then the endophallus balloons out, followed by a portion without cornuti; distal portion of endophallus with short single row of heavy retrorse spines leading to somewhat irregular row of shorter cornuti that extends to a narrower terminal portion. Female genitalia. (Fig. 37) Ductus bursae moderately long and sclerotized. Appendix bursae sclerotized and striate for proximal half, directed to left before overlapping ductus bursae and leading to membranous sac that terminates at the ductus seminalis. Corpus bursae sac-like and thin-walled, arising at juncture of ductus bursae and appendix bursae. Global distribution. Mexico, Guatemala (type locality), Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador. Etymology. The specific epithet merga, a noun in apposition (Latin merga for hayfork) refers to the sharp, tinelike digitus and pointed basal sclerite of the clasper. Food plant. Unknown. Larva. Unknown. Remarks. A Guatemala specimen of L. merga with Janzen code 10-SRNP-114591 was sequenced in BOLD under the name Leucania Poole 11., Published as part of Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 250-266 in Zootaxa 5256 (3) on pages 253-255, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7751414, {"references":["Walker, F. (1856) List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Vol. 9. Edward Newman, London, 252 pp."]}

Five new species of the noctuid genus Leucania in Central America are described: L. mopan Adams and McCabe, sp. nov., L. merga Adams and McCabe, sp. nov., L. championi Adams and McCabe, sp. nov., L. colorada McCabe and Adams, sp. nov., L. sororia McCabe and Adams, sp. nov. The internal genitalia are key to resolving the taxonomy in this genus; in particular, the morphology of the male everted endophallus (vesica) and the female bursa copulatrix jointly resolve taxonomic confusion among cryptic species near L. albifasciata, L. oaxacana and L. humidicola. We recognize the valvular pore plate and the “poma” (bubble-like structure at base of valvae) as generic synapomorphies for Leucania. Lappets (inflatable pouches on the outer aspect of the valvae) are newly described. Descriptions and color illustrations of the imagos, male valvae, everted endophalli, and the female bursae copulatrix are provided for all newly described species and selected congeners to aid identification. Additional nomenclatorial actions are: Leucania complicata Strecker, 1898 rest. stat.; Leucania februalis Hill, 1924 syn. nov., a junior synonym of L. humidicola; Leucania elephas Troubridge 2020 syn. nov., a junior synonym of L. humidicola.

Two new species of Terrobittacus Tan & Hua, 2009 are described and illustrated from Sichuan and Guangxi provinces of China, increasing the species number of Terrobittacus to eight. Terrobittacus emeishanicus sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners by wings with distinct markings and a female subgenital plate with a V-shaped carina. Terrobittacus laoshanicus sp. nov. can be recognized by the black terga VI–IX. A key to species of Terrobittacus is updated. The species distribution and the relationship between adult morphology and mating behavior were briefly discussed.

The article presents 13 species of Noctuoidea superfamily from Omsk and Novosibirsk regions of Russia. 6 species are new to Omsk region, 8 species are new to Novosibirsk region. 4 species are new to the Russian part of the West Siberian Plain, among them, Schrankia balneorum (Alphéraky, 1880), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, 1808), Leucochlaena fallax (Staudinger, 1870), Mythimna anderreggii (Boisduval, 1840)., Authors thank K.B. Ponomarev (Omsk), O.N. Kholodov (Krasnyi Oktyabr`, Omsk Region), A.A. Sal`nik (Ermak, Omsk Region) for the good company in collecting trips in Omsk Region in 2022 and materials provided for our research.

Twenty-five species of the degeerella species group in the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg, 1798 are reviewed from China. Fourteen species are described as new: N. spinatibaltea Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. parvaprocessa Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. bifurcifascia Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. biprocessa Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. ravidifera Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. triuga Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. seorsifascia Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. borealis Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. recurvatifera Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. digitivalva Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. apiciprocessa Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. purpuratifera Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov., N. latirectangula Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov. and N. gaoligongshana Sun, Wang et Li, sp. nov. Three species, N. chalybeella (Bremer, 1864), N. japonica Stringer, 1930 and N. karafutonis (Matsumura, 1932), are recorded for the first time in China. Images of adults and genitalia of all the species with available specimens in China are given, along with a key to these species. A list of all the species of the degeerella species group in the world is provided.

Key to species of the degeerella group in China based on external characters and male genitalia 1. Hindwing with a yellow spot at apex of CuA 2 (Caradja 1927: 63)..................................... N. syfaniella - Hindwing without yellow spot.......................................................................... 2 2. Forewing with fascia separated.......................................................................... 3 - Forewing with fascia not separated....................................................................... 4 3. Forewing with black dots beyond outer fascia posteriorly (Fig. 22)............................ N. seorsifascia sp. nov. - Forewing without black dot beyond outer fascia (Caradja 1927: 64).................................. N. disjunctella 4. Forewing with V-shaped pattern from beyond outer fascia to apex.............................................. 5 - Forewing without V-shaped pattern from beyond outer fascia to apex............................................ 6 5. Forewing with a streak along anterior margin of cell curved apically (Figs 20, 21)............... N. recurvatifera sp. nov. - Forewing with a straight streak along anterior margin of cell (Küppers 1980: 277, fig. 78)............................................................................................................... N. ochsenheimerella 6. Forewing with four yellow stripes beyond middle of outer fascia (Fig. 14)............................. N. karafutonis - Forewing without yellow stripes beyond middle of outer fascia................................................ 7 7. Forewing with a distally forked stripe from beyond outer fascia to apex (Fig. 5)................ N. bifurcifascia sp. nov. - Forewing without forked stripe from beyond outer fascia to apex............................................... 8 8. Phallus with sclerotized belt............................................................................ 9 - Phallus without sclerotized belt......................................................................... 18 9. Juxta borne at middle of phallus, stalk swollen (Fig. 46)......................................... N. staudingerella - Juxta borne near apex of phallus, stalk not swollen......................................................... 10 10. Tegumen with plate.................................................................................. 11 - Tegumen without plate............................................................................... 14 11. Transtilla broad rectangular; uncus reniform (Fig. 39).................................... N. latirectangula sp. nov. - Transtilla narrowly banded; uncus not reniform............................................................ 12 12. Valva fused for basal 1/4; phallus without denticles (Fig. 35)............................ N. gaoligongshana sp. nov. - Valva separated basally; phallus with denticles............................................................. 13 13. Valva rounded at apex, slightly sinuate on ventral margin (Fig. 41).......................... N. purpuratifera sp. nov. - Valva pointed at apex, obliquely straight on ventral margin (Fig. 32)............................. N. borealis sp. nov. 14. Valva with three longitudinal ridges on ventral surface; phallus with two processes (Fig. 47)........... N. triuga sp. nov. - Valva without longitudinal ridge on ventral surface; phallus without process..................................... 15 15. Valva with two triangular processes at basal 1/3 on ventral margin; transtilla with median process short digitate (Fig. 29).............................................................................................. N. augites - Valva without triangular processes on ventral margin; transtilla with median process not digitate..................... 16 16. Tegumen with a median ridge (Fig. 38).......................................................... N. lapikella - Tegumen without median ridge......................................................................... 17 17. Valva obliquely straight from basal 1/4 to middle on ventral margin; vesica with belts of short spines (Fig. 45)............................................................................................ N. spinatibaltea sp. nov. - Valva vertically straight from basal 1/4 to middle on ventral margin; vesica without belts of short spines (Fig. 33)................................................................................................. N. chalybeella 18. Valva fused basally.................................................................................. 19 - Valva separated basally............................................................................... 23 19. Valva spatulate; vesica with two rows of spines (Hirowatari 2005: 323, fig. 8).......................... N. polychorda - Valva not spatulate; vesica without spines................................................................ 20 20. Uncus triangular.................................................................................... 21 - Uncus not triangular................................................................................. 22 21. Phallus with a banded and two equally narrow processes (Fig. 31)............................. N. biprocessa sp. nov. - Phallus without process (Fig. 42)....................................................... N. ravidifera sp. nov. 22. Phallus with a belt of short spines; sacculus subtriangular (Fig. 40)......................... N. parvaprocessa sp. nov. - Phallus without belt of short spines; sacculus not subtriangular (Fig. 27)................................ N. amatella 23. Vinculum produced posteromedially; sacculus rectangular (Fig. 28)......................... N. apiciprocessa sp. nov. - Vinculum not produced posteromedially; sacculus not rectangular............................................. 24 24. Sacculus reaching near apex of ventral margin; valva digitate (Fig. 34)......................... N. digitivalva sp. nov. - Sacculus reaching basal 1/5 of ventral margin; valva subtriangular (Fig. 36)............................. N. japonica, Published as part of Sun, Hao, Wang, Shuxia & Li, Houhun, 2022, Review of the degeerella species group of the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg 1798 (Lepidoptera: Adelidae) from China, pp. 301-338 in Zootaxa 5219 (4) on pages 303-304, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5219.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7433926, {"references":["Caradja, A. (1927) Die kleinfalter der stotzner'schen ausbeute nebst zutrage aus meiner sammlung (Zweite biogeographische skizze: \" Zentralasien \"). Academia Romana Memoriile Sectiunii Stiintifice, 4 (8), 361 - 428.","Kuppers, P. V. (1980) Untersuchungen zur taxonomie und phylogenie der Westpalaarktischen Adelinae (Lepidoptera: Adelinae). Verlag M. Wahl, Karlsruhe, 497 pp.","Hirowatari, T. (2005) The genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg, 1798 (Lepidoptera, Adelidae) from the Ryukyus. Transactions of the Lepidopterological Society of Japan, 56 (4), 311 - 329."]}

CHARA GLOBULARIS Oospores of Chara globularis analyzed in this study were on average prolate (elongated) and ellipsoidal. The color varied from dark brown to black – from approximately RAL 8022 (black-brown), through RAL 9004 (signal black) to RAL 9005 (jet black) (Fig. 3A). The membrane of the oospore was brownish and slightly granular. A total number of 94 oospores was measured and included in the analysis – 54 from the vicinity of Bela Crkva (DP and SL) and 40 from the SNR Gornje Podunavlje (GPL1). Oospore parameters of Chara globularis in relation to localities where this species was found are shown in Figure 4. The analysis (F = 2.1, P = 0.002) described 32% variability in our data. The sampling localities are clearly separated, as can be seen on the ordination diagram. Oospore parameters of Chara globularis are clearly negatively correlated with GPL1 and oriented toward the left side of the ordination diagram showing a positive correlation with DP and SL localities. More precisely, higher values of the width of the fossa, (ISI and LPA) were related to SL, while higher values of LED, ANI, number of ridges and AND were connected to the DP locality. Multivariate analysis clearly highlighted intraspecific (i.e., interpopulation) variability of C. globularis oospore parameters, pointing out that all parameters had higher values in specimens found in vicinity of Bela Crkva (SL and DP) in comparison to the remote locality in SNR Gornje Podunavlje (GPL1). The variability of measured parameters was clearly visible even between populations from geographically close localities (SL and DP)., Published as part of Milovanović, Vanja, Popović, Slađana, Predojević, Dragana, Simić, Gordana Subakov, Ržaničanin, Ana, Sekulić, Jasmina Šinžar & Trbojević, Ivana, 2022, Oospore features among morphologically similar and closely related charophyte species: consistency and variability, pp. 189-200 in Cryptogamie, Algologie 20 (12) on page 193, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2022v43a12, http://zenodo.org/record/7819451

CHARA “ CONNIVENS ” Oospores of Chara “ connivens ” in this study were on average elongated (prolate) and ellipsoidal in shape. Their color was dark brown to black – from approximately RAL 8019 (grey brown), through RAL 8022 (black brown) to graphite black (RAL 9011) (Fig. 3B). The membrane was opaque, light brown in color, and completely smooth. A total number of 62 oospores were included in the analysis, all of them from the vicinity of Bela Crkva (DP)., Published as part of Milovanović, Vanja, Popović, Slađana, Predojević, Dragana, Simić, Gordana Subakov, Ržaničanin, Ana, Sekulić, Jasmina Šinžar & Trbojević, Ivana, 2022, Oospore features among morphologically similar and closely related charophyte species: consistency and variability, pp. 189-200 in Cryptogamie, Algologie 20 (12) on page 193, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2022v43a12, http://zenodo.org/record/7819451

CHARA BRAUNII Oospores of the Chara braunii analyzed in this study were ellipsoidal in shape and elongated (prolate). Their color was mostly dark brown, to black – from RAL 8016 (mahogany brown) to RAL 8022 (black-brown), rarely RAL 9011 (graphite black) (Fig. 3D). The membrane was light brown and granular. A total number of 48 oospores was measured and included in the analysis, 28 from the vicinity of Bela Crkva (pond LO1) and 20 from the SNR Gornje Podunavlje (GPL3). Oospore parameters of Chara braunii in relation to localities where this taxon was recorded are shown in Figure 6. Analysis described 22% variability in our data, and was significant (F = 1.3, P = 0.002). Variability between populations in remote localities was detectable, and all oospore parameters (except ANI and ISI) correlated with the locality in the vicinity of Bela Crkva (LO1), meaning that the oospores from this locality were distinctively longer and wider, with wider fossa. ISI showed positive correlation only with the locality in SNR Gornje Podunavlje (GPL3), while ANI did not show correlation to any of the sites., Published as part of Milovanović, Vanja, Popović, Slađana, Predojević, Dragana, Simić, Gordana Subakov, Ržaničanin, Ana, Sekulić, Jasmina Šinžar & Trbojević, Ivana, 2022, Oospore features among morphologically similar and closely related charophyte species: consistency and variability, pp. 189-200 in Cryptogamie, Algologie 20 (12) on page 194, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2022v43a12, http://zenodo.org/record/7819451

Nikara castanea Moore, 1882 (Figs 1–6, 15, 16, 19, 20) Nikara castanea Moore, 1882, Descriptions of new Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the collection of the late Mr. W.S. Atkinson 2: 126, pl. 4, fig. 24 (Type locality: [NE India, north of West Bengal, Darjeeling] “ Darjiling ”). Material examined. INDIA: 1 male, [north of West Bengal, Darjeeling] Darjiling, Moore Coll. 94-106, NHMUK unique number: 014165090, gen. slide No.: NHMUK010316228 (prepared by Volynkin) (NHMUK); 1 female, [Sikkim] Sikhim, IX.1909. F. Moller. 1910-140, NHMUK unique number: 014165091, gen. slide No.: NHMUK010316229 (prepared by Volynkin) (NHMUK); THAILAND: 1 female, Changwat Chiang Mai, Mt. Doi Phahompok, 17 km NW of Fang, 2100m, 15.VIII.1999, leg. T. Csővári & L. Mikus, gen. slide No.: AV6401 (prepared by Volynkin) (WSO); 1 male, Chiang Mai, Mt. Doi Phahompok, 18 km NW Fang, 2100m, 10–11.IX.1999, leg. A. Szabo & Zita (MHB); VIETNAM: 4 females, Prov. Lao Cai, 1920m, Fan-si-pan Mts, Sa Pa, 4 km W Cat Cat, January–March 1998, leg. Frontier organization (HNHM); CHINA: 3 male, Shaanxi, 1480m, North from Foping, N33°42.546 ″, E107°56.418 ″, 3–5.viii.2006, Floriani & Saldaitis leg., gen. slide No.: AV5595 (prepared by Volynkin) (ASV, AFM); 1 female, Chong Guanmian Shan, 25.viii–15.ix.2000, 1500m, [local] collector leg., gen. slide No.: AV6435 (prepared by Volynkin) (HSV). Remarks. According to the original description (Moore 1882), the type female should be stored in the collection of O. Staudinger which is currently housed in MfN. Unfortunately, we could not locate the type specimen, probably it is lost. However, the topotype male specimen deposited in NHMUK was examined by the second author of the present paper. Diagnosis. The species can easily be distinguished from the congeners by the amber brown area along the anal forewing margin fused with the amber brown postmedial and subterminal areas. The differences between N. castanea and N. cupreomicans are discussed in details below in the diagnoses of the latter species. Re-description. External morphology of adults (Figs 1–6). Head and thorax dark brown, with suffusion of shiny bluish scales. Male antenna filiform. Forewing length is 15–18 mm in males and 16.5–17 mm in females. Subbasal and medial areas of forewing dark brown with suffusion of shiny bluish scales medially and along the costa but amber brown with slight suffusion of shiny bluish scales along the anal margin. Orbicular stigma narrowly elliptical, encircled with shiny bluish scales. Reniform stigma nearly circular, encircled with shiny bluish scales. Postmedial line smoothly curved medially. Postmedial area amber brown. Subterminal area pale amber brown with intense suffusion of shiny bluish scales. Cilia pale brown. Hindwing greyish brown, slightly paler at base. Discal spot reniform, indistinct. Abdomen brown. Male genitalia (Figs 15, 16). Uncus elongate, slender, laterally flattened, dorso-ventrally curved, dilated subapically, apically pointed with tiny claw-like tip. Tuba analis with heavily sclerotised and rugose scaphium. Tegumen shorter than valva. Juxta shield-like, with rounded apical depression and tiny round basal incision. Vinculum ca. 1.5 times shorter than tegumen, with thin but well-sclerotised arms, Vshaped with pointed tip. Pleurite present, as a curved and apically rounded, plate-like extension of vinculum. Valva elongate and narrow (length to width ratio ca. 5.5:1), with nearly parallel margins. Costal margin slightly convex subbasally. Corona present. Sacculus short (ca. 0.2 of valva length) and narrow (ca. half of basal section of valva width). Clavus finger-like with rounded tip. Aedeagus elongate, nearly straight, with short (ca. 0.2 of valva length) and apically rounded distal carinal process ventrally. Vesica with long (longer than main chamber), sack-like ventral diverticulum having two short lobes apically. Subbasal cluster of cornuti band-like, consisting of numerous tiny short cornuti. Female genitalia (Figs 19, 20). Papillae analis sclerotised, posteriorly tapered with rounded tips, weakly setose. Apophyses rod-like, thin. Apophysis anterioris ca. 1.25 times longer than posterioris one, dilated apically. Ostium bursae with membranous margin. Ductus bursae short (ca. 0.75 of apophysis anterioris length), membranous, tubular. Corpus bursae strongly elongate (ca. 6.5 times longer than ductus bursae), narrow (length to medial section width ratio ca. 1:3.3), membranous, with elliptical rugose sclerotised plate postero-laterally at right side. Appendix bursae short (ca. 1/10 of corpus bursae length), broadly conical with rounded apex, positioned postero-laterally at left side. Distribution and bionomics. The species is known from eastern Himalaya (north-eastern India), northern Thailand (Chiang Mai Province), northern Vietnam (Lào Cai Province) (Moore 1882; Hampson 1910; Kononenko & Pinratana 2013, as Chrysonicara aureus), and China (Shaanxi) (new country record). In China, the species was collected at light in the beginning of August at altitudes around 1500 meters in a small river valley surrounded by hills overgrown with a forest of various deciduous trees and bushes (Fig. 24)., Published as part of Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V., Speidel, Wolfgang & Zahiri, Reza, 2022, A review of the genus Nikara Moore and its transfer to the Stiriinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 201-219 in Zootaxa 5205 (3) on pages 208-209, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7305945, {"references":["Moore, F. (1882) s. n. In: Descriptions of new Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the collection of the late Mr. W. S. Atkinson. Part 2. Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, pp. 89 - 198.","Hampson, G. F. (1910) Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Vol. 9. Catalogue of the Noctuidae in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum, London, 552 pp.","Kononenko, V. S. & Pinratana, A. (2013) Moths of Thailand. Vol. 3. Part 2. Noctuoidea. An illustrated catalogue of Erebidae, Nolidae, Euteliidae and Noctuidae (Insecta, Lepidoptera) in Thailand. Brothers of St. Gabriel in Thailand, Bangkok, 625 pp."]}

Nikara cupreomicans (Draudt, 1950), comb. nov. (Figs 7–10, 17, 21) Lasiplexia cupreomicans Draudt, 1950, Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 40 (1): 102, pl. 7, fig. 8 (adult) (Type locality (hereby fixed by lectotype designation): [SW China, Yunnan, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Adunzi] “A-tun-tse”). Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) (Fig. 7): female, “A-tun-tse (Nord Yünnan) | Mittlere Höhe (ca. 4000m) | 20.7.1936 H. Höne ” / pink label “ Holotype | Lasiplexia | cupreomicans | ♀ Draudt.” / “ Lasiplexia | cupreomicans | ♀ Draudt.” (ZFMK). Additional material examined. CHINA: 4 males, 2 females, Li-kiang [Lijiang], North Yunnan Province, H. Höne [leg.], with the following dates: 11.VIII.1934 (2 males), 12.VIII.1934 (1 male), 23.VIII.1934 (1 male) and 29.vii.1934 (1 female), and 7.VIII.1934 (1 female), unique numbers ZFMK Lep. 153596 and 153599 (males, dissected by Si-yao Huang), gen. slide Nos. AV 6639 and AV6640 (females) (prepared by Volynkin) (ZFMK); 4 males, E Sichuan, 30 km SE from Ping Wu, 1420m, N32°20.725 '', E104°36.650 '', 7.viii.2006, Floriani & Saldaitis leg., gen. slide No. AV 5596 (prepared by Volynkin) (AFM, ASV & JSL); 3 males, 1 female, the same locality and collectors but 1.viii.2006, gen. slide Nos. AV 5597 (male) and AV6403 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (AFM & ASV); 2 females, N Sichuan, 20 km N of Maoxian, 1820m, N31°46.310 '', E103°42.898 '', 30.vii.2006. Floriani & Saldaitis leg. (AFM); 1 female, Shaanxi, 1480m, North from Foping, N33°42.546 '', E107°56.418 '', 3–5. viii. 2006, Floriani & Saldaitis leg. (AFM). Notes. (1) In the original description, Draudt (1950) mentioned several female specimens from A-tun-tse (with the date “20. VI.[19]36”) and two females from Li-kiang (with the dates “8 und 13.VIII.[19]34”), which are syntypes. In ZFMK collection, no specimens with such label data were found. However, we found a female labeled as ‘Holotype’ from A-tun-tse collected at 20.VII.1936 which let us to assume that Draudt made a typo in the citation of the date (June instead of July). In order to stabilize the nomenclature, we hereby designate this specimen as lectotype. (2) The type and topotype specimens housed in ZFMK are faded and lack the shiny bluish suffusion which is present in the fresh specimens collected by the senior author of the present paper. Diagnosis. The species is reminiscent of N. castanea, but can be distinguished by the absence of a wide brown area along the anal forewing margin which is present in N. castanea. Additionally, the terminal area of N. cupreomicans is brownish grey (brown in N. castanea), and the orbicular stigma is nearly circular (whereas it is narrowly elliptical in N. castanea). The male genital capsule of N. cupreomicans differs from that of N. castanea in the subapically slightly dilated uncus (it is strongly dilated in N. castanea), the somewhat narrower juxta (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex width) and the presence of a harpe which is absent in N. castanea. The aedeagus of N. cupreomicans is ca. 2 times narrower than in N. castanea and has the narrower and somewhat shorter carinal process. The vesica of N. cupreomicans is much narrower (in proportion to the aedeagus width) than that of N. castanea, lacks a ventral diverticulum (present in N. castanea) and bears a row of tiny denticles subbasally and a row of various-sized spine-like cornuti distally and medio-laterally whereas N. castanea has a dorsal cluster of short but robust spinules subbasally and lacks cornuti distally. Additionally, the vesica ejaculatorius of N. cupreomicans is narrower than in N. castanea (in proportion to the vesica width). The vesica structure of N. cupreomicans is similar to that of N. plusiodes, the detailed comparison is provided in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to N. castanea, the vesica of N. cupreomicans lacks an elongate ventral diverticulum but bears an elongate row-like cluster of spine-like cornuti medially (N. castanea, there is a short cluster subbasally). The female genitalia of N. cupreomicans differ clearly from those of N. castanea by the somewhat wider and less elongate papillae anales (they are narrow and more heavily sclerotised in N. castanea) and the markedly (ca. 2 times) longer corpus bursae which is narrowed posteriorly and medially and drop-like dilated anteriorly (whereas it is sack-like in N. castanea). Additionally, in N. cupreomicans, the posterior section of the corpus bursae has a broad globular postero-lateral protrusion (absent in N. castanea), and the sclerotised plate is markedly shorter and narrower than in castanea. The appendix bursae of N. cupreomicans is short, with thick gelatinous walls and positioned sub-postero-ventrally, whereas that of N. castanea is broader, membranous and is positioned postero-laterally on the left side. Description. External morphology of adults (Figs 7–10). Antennae of both sexes filiform. Head and thorax dark brown, with suffusion of shiny bluish scales. Forewing length 15 mm in males and 15–16 mm in females. Sexual dimorphism limited: female has somewhat wider forewing than male. Forewing ground colour dark brown. Antemedial line double, dark brown, narrow, sinuous. Postmedial line dark brown, slightly curved. Cell dark brown between the spots. Orbicular stigma circular, encircled with shiny bluish scales. Reniform stigma moderately broad, encircled with shiny bluish scales. Subcostal area dark brown with five various sized spots with intense shiny bluish suffusion. Postmedial area with intense amber suffusion. Subterminal area brownish grey with intense shiny bluish suffusion. Cilia brown. Hindwing brown, discal spot small, circular, dark brown, indistinct. Abdomen brown. Male genitalia (Fig. 17). Uncus elongate, narrow, laterally flattened, dorso-ventrally curved, somewhat dilated subapically, apically pointed with tiny claw-like tip. Tuba analis moderately broad, with heavily sclerotised and rugose scaphium. Tegumen moderately wide, shorter than valva. Juxta shield-like, with wide rounded apical depression and tiny round basal incision. Vinculum ca. 1.5 times shorter than tegumen, with thin but well-sclerotised arms, Vshaped with pointed tip. Pleurite present, as a curved and apically rounded, plate-like extension of vinculum. Valva elongate and narrow (length to width ratio 5:1), with nearly parallel margins. Costal margin convex subbasally. Corona present, consisting of robust setae. Sacculus short (ca. 1/4 of valva length) and narrow (ca. half of basal section of valva width). Clavus narrowly triangular with rounded tip. Harpe short (its length to valva width ration 1:3.8), narrowly triangular and apically pointed. Aedeagus elongate, slightly downcurved medially, with short (ca. 1/5 of aedeagus length) and apically rounded distal carinal process ventrally. Vesica sack-like, approximately equal in length with aedeagus, projecting dorsad, bearing lateral row of tiny denticles subbasally, and row of various sized spine-like cornuti extending from medial section to the base of vesica ejaculatorius and terminating by a robust thorn-like cornutus apically. Female genitalia (Fig. 21). Papillae anales trapezoid with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses thin, rod-like, equal in length. Ostium bursae with membranous margins. Ductus bursae as long as apophyses, narrowly tubular, membranous. Corpus bursae extremely long, narrowed posteriorly and medially and drop-like dilated anteriorly, with globular and membranous lateral protrusion posteriorly on the right side. Posterior sclerotised plate of corpus bursae elongate and narrow. Appendix bursae broadly conical with wide and rounded apex and thick gelatinous walls, positioned sub-posteriorly on the ventral side of corpus bursae. Distribution and bionomics. The species is known from Yunnan, Sichuan and south-western Shaanxi Provinces of China. In Sichuan, the species was collected at early August at the altitude of approximately 1400 meters in the scarce mountain mixed forest dominated by various deciduous trees, bamboo and bushes and located in between small agriculture fields (Fig. 25).

Genus Nikara Moore, 1882 Nikara Moore, 1882, Descriptions of new Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the collection of the late Mr. W.S. Atkinson 2: 126 (Type species: Nikara castanea Moore, 1882, by monotypy). = Chrysonicara Draudt in Seitz, 1937, Die Grossschmetterlinge der Erde. Supplementum 3: 262 (Type species: Chrysoptera aureus Bang-Haas, 1927), syn. nov. Remarks. The genus Chrysonicara was erected for the species aureus whereas the species plusiodes was described under the genus Nikara. Examination of the type specimens of the two species displayed their conspecificity to each other therefore we hereby synonymize aureus with plusiodes Moreover, C. plusiodes is obviously congeneric with the type species of the genus Nikara sharing all the key generic characters listed below. Thus, we hereby synonymize Chrysonicara with Nikara. Diagnosis. The members of the genus vary in their wing colouration and patterns but are readilydistinct from most of Stiriinae distributed in North America. Nikara plusiodes is reminiscent of the North American Plagiomimicus Grote whereas N. castanea and N. cupreomicans are only vaguely similar to the West Palaearctic Stilbia Stephens (illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001)) in their forewing shape and pattern, and more reminiscent of the distantly related Amphipyra Ochsenheimer. All three species have a shiny suffusion on their bodies and forewings, the feature also occurring among many North American members of the subfamily. Species of Nikara also have a frontal process typical of Stiriinae (Poole 1995) but lack a terminal claw on the foretibia typical of the North American genera. In the male genitalia, species of Nikara share the synapomorphy of the subfamily recognized by Poole (1995), namely the shape and spination of the vesica which is generally ovate and somewhat elongate having a basal row of short, stubby cornuti and a more distal, diffuse patch of elongate and thin cornuti. The male genitalia of Nikara have simplified valvae structure also typical of species in the North American stiriine genera (illustrated by Poole (1995)) but differing in the presence of a scaphium and a well-developed corona of long robust setae, whereas the latter are weak or absent in the North American species and Stilbia (illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001)). The claspers of N. castanea and N. plusiodes lack a harpe (similar to members of Chalcopasta Hampson and Xanthothrix H. Edwards) whereas a short harpe is present in N. cupreomicans, but positioned in the basal third of the valva, whereas valvae of other Stiriinae bear a harpe in the middle or in the distal third. Additionally, the valvae of Nikara have a well-developed, elongate clavus which is very short in most of the North American stiriines but quite elongate in certain species of Stilbia. The female genitalia of Nikara are characterised by the elongate corpus bursae having a sclerotised plate or rugose area similar to most of the North American members of the subfamily. The female of the type species of the genus has elongate and heavily sclerotized papillae anales which are also common among the North American species (illustrated by Poole (1995)) while N. cupreomicans and N. plusiodes have shorter and weakly sclerotized papillae anales similar to those of Stilbia species (illustrated by Ronkay et al. (2001)). Re-description. External morphology of adults (Figs 1–14). Medium-sized moths, forewing length 15–18 mm in males and 15–19 mm in females. Antennae of both sexes filiform. Forewing wide. Ground colour from brown, with golden shine or suffusion of shiny bluish scales. Pattern elements in subbasal and medial areas indistinct. Male genitalia (Figs 15–18). Uncus elongate, narrow, laterally flattened, dorso-ventrally curved, somewhat dilated subapically, apically pointed with tiny claw-like tip. Tuba analis with heavily sclerotised and rugose scaphium. Tegumen without peniculus. Juxta shield-like, with wide rounded apical depression and tiny round basal incision. Vinculum more or less equal in length to tegumen, with pointed tip. Pleurite present, as a curved and apically rounded, plate-like extension of vinculum. Valva elongate and narrow (length to width ratio from 3.8:1 to 5:1). Corona present, consisting of a row of strong setae. Sacculus short (ca. 1/4 of valva length) and narrow (ca. half of valva base width). Clavus finger-like. Harpe absent or present as short (ca. 1/4 of valva width), narrowly triangular process near the ventral margin of valva. Aedeagus elongate, with short (ca. 0.1–0.2 of aedeagus length) and rounded coecum and short (ca. 1/6 of aedeagus length) and apically rounded distal carinal process. Vesica sack-like, may have large (longer than the main chamber) ventral diverticulum, bearing clusters of numerous spine-like or thorn-like cornuti of various sizes. Female genitalia (Figs 19–23). Papillae anales trapezoidal with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses thin, rod-like, more or less equal in length; apophysis posterioris with posterior sclerotised plate protruding to ovipositor. Ostium bursae with membranous margins. Ductus bursae tubular, membranous. Corpus bursae sack-like or elongate, with membranous walls, bearing sclerotised plate posteriorly or sclerotised area medially. Appendix bursae broadly conical with wide and round apex and thick gelatinous walls, positioned in different parts of corpus bursae in different species. Distribution and bionomics. The genus is known from eastern Himalaya (northeastern India), northern Indochina (northern Thailand and northern Vietnam) and south-western and central China (Yunnan, Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces). The preimaginal stages are unknown. Species of the genus occur at medium altitudes ranging from 1400–2100 m and inhabit mesophilous biotopes (Figs 24, 25) whereas most of North American Stiriinae and the West Palaearctic Stilbia are xerophilous (Poole 1995; Ronkay et al. 2001)., Published as part of Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V., Speidel, Wolfgang & Zahiri, Reza, 2022, A review of the genus Nikara Moore and its transfer to the Stiriinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 201-219 in Zootaxa 5205 (3) on pages 207-208, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7305945, {"references":["Moore, F. (1882) s. n. In: Descriptions of new Indian Lepidopterous Insects from the collection of the late Mr. W. S. Atkinson. Part 2. Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, pp. 89 - 198.","Bang-Haas, O. (1927) Horae Macrolepidopterologicae Regionis Palaearcticae. Vol. 1. Verlag O. Staudinger & Bang-Haas, Dresden, 128 pp., pls. 1 - 11.","Ronkay, L., Yela, J. L. & Hreblay, M. (2001) Hadeninae II. Noctuidae Europaeae. Vol. 5. Entomological Press, Soro, 352 pp.","Poole, R. W. (1995) Noctuoidea: Noctuidae (part), Cuculliinae, Stiriinae, Psaphidinae (part). In: Dominick, R. B., Ferguson, D. C., Franclemont, J. G., Hodges, R. W. & Munroe, E. G. (Eds.), The Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 26. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, pp. 1 - 249."]}

Nikara cupreomicans (Draudt, 1950), comb. nov. (Figs 7–10, 17, 21) Lasiplexia cupreomicans Draudt, 1950, Mitteilungen der Münchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 40 (1): 102, pl. 7, fig. 8 (adult) (Type locality (hereby fixed by lectotype designation): [SW China, Yunnan, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Adunzi] “A-tun-tse”). Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) (Fig. 7): female, “A-tun-tse (Nord Yünnan) | Mittlere Höhe (ca. 4000m) | 20.7.1936 H. Höne ” / pink label “ Holotype | Lasiplexia | cupreomicans | ♀ Draudt.” / “ Lasiplexia | cupreomicans | ♀ Draudt.” (ZFMK). Additional material examined. CHINA: 4 males, 2 females, Li-kiang [Lijiang], North Yunnan Province, H. Höne [leg.], with the following dates: 11.VIII.1934 (2 males), 12.VIII.1934 (1 male), 23.VIII.1934 (1 male) and 29.vii.1934 (1 female), and 7.VIII.1934 (1 female), unique numbers ZFMK Lep. 153596 and 153599 (males, dissected by Si-yao Huang), gen. slide Nos. AV 6639 and AV6640 (females) (prepared by Volynkin) (ZFMK); 4 males, E Sichuan, 30 km SE from Ping Wu, 1420m, N32°20.725 '', E104°36.650 '', 7.viii.2006, Floriani & Saldaitis leg., gen. slide No. AV 5596 (prepared by Volynkin) (AFM, ASV & JSL); 3 males, 1 female, the same locality and collectors but 1.viii.2006, gen. slide Nos. AV 5597 (male) and AV6403 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (AFM & ASV); 2 females, N Sichuan, 20 km N of Maoxian, 1820m, N31°46.310 '', E103°42.898 '', 30.vii.2006. Floriani & Saldaitis leg. (AFM); 1 female, Shaanxi, 1480m, North from Foping, N33°42.546 '', E107°56.418 '', 3–5. viii. 2006, Floriani & Saldaitis leg. (AFM). Notes. (1) In the original description, Draudt (1950) mentioned several female specimens from A-tun-tse (with the date “20. VI.[19]36”) and two females from Li-kiang (with the dates “8 und 13.VIII.[19]34”), which are syntypes. In ZFMK collection, no specimens with such label data were found. However, we found a female labeled as ‘Holotype’ from A-tun-tse collected at 20.VII.1936 which let us to assume that Draudt made a typo in the citation of the date (June instead of July). In order to stabilize the nomenclature, we hereby designate this specimen as lectotype. (2) The type and topotype specimens housed in ZFMK are faded and lack the shiny bluish suffusion which is present in the fresh specimens collected by the senior author of the present paper. Diagnosis. The species is reminiscent of N. castanea, but can be distinguished by the absence of a wide brown area along the anal forewing margin which is present in N. castanea. Additionally, the terminal area of N. cupreomicans is brownish grey (brown in N. castanea), and the orbicular stigma is nearly circular (whereas it is narrowly elliptical in N. castanea). The male genital capsule of N. cupreomicans differs from that of N. castanea in the subapically slightly dilated uncus (it is strongly dilated in N. castanea), the somewhat narrower juxta (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex width) and the presence of a harpe which is absent in N. castanea. The aedeagus of N. cupreomicans is ca. 2 times narrower than in N. castanea and has the narrower and somewhat shorter carinal process. The vesica of N. cupreomicans is much narrower (in proportion to the aedeagus width) than that of N. castanea, lacks a ventral diverticulum (present in N. castanea) and bears a row of tiny denticles subbasally and a row of various-sized spine-like cornuti distally and medio-laterally whereas N. castanea has a dorsal cluster of short but robust spinules subbasally and lacks cornuti distally. Additionally, the vesica ejaculatorius of N. cupreomicans is narrower than in N. castanea (in proportion to the vesica width). The vesica structure of N. cupreomicans is similar to that of N. plusiodes, the detailed comparison is provided in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to N. castanea, the vesica of N. cupreomicans lacks an elongate ventral diverticulum but bears an elongate row-like cluster of spine-like cornuti medially (N. castanea, there is a short cluster subbasally). The female genitalia of N. cupreomicans differ clearly from those of N. castanea by the somewhat wider and less elongate papillae anales (they are narrow and more heavily sclerotised in N. castanea) and the markedly (ca. 2 times) longer corpus bursae which is narrowed posteriorly and medially and drop-like dilated anteriorly (whereas it is sack-like in N. castanea). Additionally, in N. cupreomicans, the posterior section of the corpus bursae has a broad globular postero-lateral protrusion (absent in N. castanea), and the sclerotised plate is markedly shorter and narrower than in castanea. The appendix bursae of N. cupreomicans is short, with thick gelatinous walls and positioned sub-postero-ventrally, whereas that of N. castanea is broader, membranous and is positioned postero-laterally on the left side. Description. External morphology of adults (Figs 7–10). Antennae of both sexes filiform. Head and thorax dark brown, with suffusion of shiny bluish scales. Forewing length 15 mm in males and 15–16 mm in females. Sexual dimorphism limited: female has somewhat wider forewing than male. Forewing ground colour dark brown. Antemedial line double, dark brown, narrow, sinuous. Postmedial line dark brown, slightly curved. Cell dark brown between the spots. Orbicular stigma circular, encircled with shiny bluish scales. Reniform stigma moderately broad, encircled with shiny bluish scales. Subcostal area dark brown with five various sized spots with intense shiny bluish suffusion. Postmedial area with intense amber suffusion. Subterminal area brownish grey with intense shiny bluish suffusion. Cilia brown. Hindwing brown, discal spot small, circular, dark brown, indistinct. Abdomen brown. Male genitalia (Fig. 17). Uncus elongate, narrow, laterally flattened, dorso-ventrally curved, somewhat dilated subapically, apically pointed with tiny claw-like tip. Tuba analis moderately broad, with heavily sclerotised and rugose scaphium. Tegumen moderately wide, shorter than valva. Juxta shield-like, with wide rounded apical depression and tiny round basal incision. Vinculum ca. 1.5 times shorter than tegumen, with thin but well-sclerotised arms, Vshaped with pointed tip. Pleurite present, as a curved and apically rounded, plate-like extension of vinculum. Valva elongate and narrow (length to width ratio 5:1), with nearly parallel margins. Costal margin convex subbasally. Corona present, consisting of robust setae. Sacculus short (ca. 1/4 of valva length) and narrow (ca. half of basal section of valva width). Clavus narrowly triangular with rounded tip. Harpe short (its length to valva width ration 1:3.8), narrowly triangular and apically pointed. Aedeagus elongate, slightly downcurved medially, with short (ca. 1/5 of aedeagus length) and apically rounded distal carinal process ventrally. Vesica sack-like, approximately equal in length with aedeagus, projecting dorsad, bearing lateral row of tiny denticles subbasally, and row of various sized spine-like cornuti extending from medial section to the base of vesica ejaculatorius and terminating by a robust thorn-like cornutus apically. Female genitalia (Fig. 21). Papillae anales trapezoid with rounded corners, setose. Apophyses thin, rod-like, equal in length. Ostium bursae with membranous margins. Ductus bursae as long as apophyses, narrowly tubular, membranous. Corpus bursae extremely long, narrowed posteriorly and medially and drop-like dilated anteriorly, with globular and membranous lateral protrusion posteriorly on the right side. Posterior sclerotised plate of corpus bursae elongate and narrow. Appendix bursae broadly conical with wide and rounded apex and thick gelatinous walls, positioned sub-posteriorly on the ventral side of corpus bursae. Distribution and bionomics. The species is known from Yunnan, Sichuan and south-western Shaanxi Provinces of China. In Sichuan, the species was collected at early August at the altitude of approximately 1400 meters in the scarce mountain mixed forest dominated by various deciduous trees, bamboo and bushes and located in between small agriculture fields (Fig. 25)., Published as part of Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V., Speidel, Wolfgang & Zahiri, Reza, 2022, A review of the genus Nikara Moore and its transfer to the Stiriinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 201-219 in Zootaxa 5205 (3) on pages 209-210, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7305945

Nikara plusiodes (de Joannis, 1914), comb. rev. (Figs 11–14, 18, 22, 23) Nikara plusiodes de Joannis, 1914, Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 1914: 183, fig. 67 (Type locality: [China, Yunnan, Dali] “ Yun-nan, Tali ”). = Chrysoptera (Plusia) aureus Bang-Haas, 1927; Horae Macrolepidopterologicae Regionis Palaearcticae 1: 91, pl. 10, fig. 42 (Type locality: [China, Yunnan, Yanmen] “ China occ. mer.: Tsekou ”), syn. nov. Type material examined. Photographs of the syntype of Nikara plusiodes (Fig. 11): male, “Tali | Yun-nan” | Nicara | plusioides | type ♂. de Joan.” | red label “ syntype ” | “ Nikara | plusiodes Joan. | Bull. Soc. ent. | Fr., 1914, p. 419” | “1920–1932 | coll. L. & J. de Joannis | Muséum Paris” | QR-code label “ MNHN, Paris | EL29378” (MNHN). Lectotype of Chrysoptera (Plusia) aureus (hereby designated) (Figs 12, 22): female, “ Tsekou | Th. Monbeig | 1909.” | “ Chrysoptera (Plusia) | aureus O. B.- Haas ” | pink label “ Type ” | “ex coll. 1/1 | Bang-Haas ” | “Horae Macrolep. | Vol. I. abgebildet | t. 10 f. 42 | beschrieb. p. 91” | red label “Prp. Nr.: 12223 NKM f | Holotypus | Chrysonicara aureus | (Bang-Haas, 1927) | China, Type / Tsekou | (Plusia) aureus O. B.- Haas / Horae | Macrolep. Vol. I Abgebildet T 10. 42 | Beschrieb. p. 91/ex coll. Bang- | Haas, 1/1, Manbeig Th. 1900/ | Prp. Behounek, 2017” (MfN). Other material examined. CHINA: 1 male, [Yunnan, Lijiang] Li-kiang, ca. 2000m, Prov. Nord-Yuennan, 31.VII.1934, H. Höne, gen. prep. by Kononenko (ZFMK); 1 female, Yuennaniu, 5.IV.1934, H. Höne (ZFMK); 1 female, Yunnan, Tali, 1913-412, 3, unique number NHMUK 014165092, gen. prep. No. NHMUK010316230 (prepared by Volynkin) (NHMUK). Remark. In the original description of Chrysoptera (Plusia) aureus, Bang-Haas (1927) cited 3 males which are syntypes. However, in the MfN collection, we found only one female syntype specimen which indicates that the sex was incorrectly determined by the author for at least one specimen. In order to stabilize the nomenclature, we hereby designate this specimen as lectotype. Diagnosis. The species can be easily distinguished from the congeners by its ‘Plusiinae-like’ external appearance characterised by the elongate forewing apex, the nearly straight postmedial line, and the subterminal and terminal forewing areas ochreous with a slight golden sheen. Additionally, the basal and medial forewing areas of N. plusiodes are monotonous brown with a thin dark brown antemedial line strongly angled in the cell, whereas it is indistinct in N. castanea and N. cupreomicans. The orbicular and reniform stigmata are indistinct, whereas they are encircled with shiny bluish scales in the congeners. The male genitalia of N. plusiodes is most similar to that of N. castanea due to the absence of a harpe, but differs clearly in the subapically less dilated uncus, and the less elongate valva with a convex costal margin (whereas it is nearly straight in N. castanea). The vesica structure of N. plusiodes is reminiscent of that of N. cupreomicans, but the main chamber of the vesica of N. plusiodes is broader, the subbasal row is shorter and consisting of conspicuously longer spines, and the cornuti of the medio-distal row are conspicuously more robust. The female genitalia of N. plusiodes are distinguished from those of N. castanea and N. cupreomicans by the corpus bursae having two lateral protrusions, and the appendix bursae positioned lateroanteriorly and having a sclerotised rugose area basally which is extending into adjacent areas of the corpus bursae. Re-description. External morphology of adults (Figs 11–14). Antenna filiform in both sexes. Body brown with ochreous suffusion. Forewing length 17 mm in males and 18–19 mm in females. Forewing broadly triangular with rounded apex and somewhat convex outer margin. Forewing ground colour brown in antemedial and medial areas and pale ochreous with intense golden suffusion postmedially. Antemedial line dark brown, thin, sinuous and medially curved, diffuse. Medial line thin and indistinct, dark brown, protruding outwards and strongly angled medially. Postmedial line alomst straight, oblique, terminating at costa near apex, dark brown inwardly and ochreous with golden suffusion outwardly. Subterminal line indistinct, sunuous, represented by brown suffusion in postmedial area medially. Terminal line thin, continuous, dark brown with golden suffusion. Forewing cilia brown. Hindwing pale ochreous with brown suffusion. Hindwing pale ochreous with admixture of brown scales. Male genitalia (Fig. 18). Uncus elongate and slender, laterally flattened, downcurved subbasally, somewhat dilated distally, apically tapered with tiny claw-like tip. Tuba analis with heavily sclerotised and rugose scaphium. Tegumen shorter than valva, with arms fused in posterior half. Juxta shield-like with wide rounded apical depression. Vinculum ca. 1.5 times shorter than tegumen, with thin but well-sclerotised arms, V-shaped with pointed tip. Valva elongate and narrow (length to width ratio 4.1:1), with nearly parallel margins distally and convex dorsal margin sub-proximally. Corona present, consisting of robust setae. Sacculus short (ca. 1/4 of valva length) and narrow (ca. half of basal section of valva width). Clavus narrowly triangular with rounded tip, somewhat curved medially. Phallus elongate, slightly downcurved medially and somewhat dilated distally, with broad (ca. 2/3 of its length) base of ductus ejaculatorius. Vesica sack-like, approximately equal in length with aedeagus, projecting dorsad, bearing basal transverse row of short but robust spines, and lateral elongate lengthwise cluster consisting of 14 short but robust spine-like cornuti proximally, several much larger thorn-like cornuti distally and terminating by the largest cornutus apically. Female genitalia (Figs 22, 23). Papilla analis trapezoid and weakly setose. Apophyses elongate and thin, more or less equal in length, apophysis anterioris thicker than apophysis posterioris. Ductus bursae tubular, narrow, membranous. Corpus bursae with two postero-lateral semiglobular protrusions (with ca. twice larger anterior one), and semi-elliptical anterior end protruding anteriorly. Appendix bursae semi-globular, positioned anterio-laterally on left side, with sclerotised rugose area basally which protruding into adjacent areas of corpus bursae. Distribution. The species is known from Yunnan Province of China (Bang-Haas 1927; de Joannis 1914)., Published as part of Saldaitis, Aidas, Volynkin, Anton V., Speidel, Wolfgang & Zahiri, Reza, 2022, A review of the genus Nikara Moore and its transfer to the Stiriinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), pp. 201-219 in Zootaxa 5205 (3) on pages 212-213, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7305945, {"references":["Joannis, J. de (1914) Description d'une nouvelle espece de Noctuelle du Yun-nan appartenant au genre Nikara [Lep.]. Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France, 1914, 419 - 421. [in French] https: // doi. org / 10.3406 / bsef. 1914.25639","Bang-Haas, O. (1927) Horae Macrolepidopterologicae Regionis Palaearcticae. Vol. 1. Verlag O. Staudinger & Bang-Haas, Dresden, 128 pp., pls. 1 - 11."]}

BACKGROUND: The diversity of moth species (Insecta, Lepidoptera) recorded in the forest nursery of Nordeste County on São Miguel Island (Azores) is given. Adults were sampled between March and December 2019 using three methods: (i) light trap to catch Noctuidae species, (ii) open-sided delta trap baited with a synthetic female sex pheromone lure to attract Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) males and (iii) entomological net to collect microlepidopteran moths. This contribution focuses mainly on the diversity of moths present in one forest nursery of Nordeste County of São Miguel Island (Azores), especially on the species associated with endemic and native plant species. It also contributes to better plan strategies for integrated protection and conservation measures, since nurseries host a great diversity of plants from the Laurel Forest, which may attract many lepidopteran species. NEW INFORMATION: A total of 10160 adults belonging to 33 lepidopteran species were recorded and listed by families, including: Argyresthiidae, one species (3%), Crambidae, four species (12%), Erebidae, one species (3%), Geometridae, five species (15%), Noctuidae, 18 species (55%), Sphingidae, one species (3%), Tineidae, one species (3%) and Tortricidae, two species (6%). The families Noctuidae, Geometridae and Crambidae were the most diverse. Those with the highest abundance of adults were the Noctuidae family, followed by the Geometridae, Crambidae, Tortricidae and Tineidae. The number of caught adults was consistently higher during spring and summer, decreasing sharply in late autumn. For 13 species caught in the light trap, the adult sex ratio was favourable to females. An analysis of the colonisation status, feeding and primary hosts of these endemic, native or exotic moth species contributes to our understanding of the factors that may lead to their establishment in Laurel Forest environments and to what extent there is a need to monitor and control them mainly with biological control agents. This research was supported by the Official Forestry Services from the Regional Government of the Azores, through the research project MoCIL "Monitorizacao e Controlo Integrado de Lepidopteros em Viveiros Florestais (Nordeste e Furnas) na ilha de Sao Miguel - Acores", in direct collaboration with the Forestry Engineers Carina Nobrega and Catarina Quintela, by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project UIDP/05292/2020 and UIDB/05292/2020 and by AZORESBIOPORTAL PORBIOTA (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000072) (2019-2022). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Perlodinella Klapálek, 1912 is a small stonefly genus in the Palearctic areas of China and its biodiversity is underestimated. This paper reports a new species of Perlodinella, Perlodinella shennongjia sp. nov. in the Dajiuhu National Wetland Park of Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, central China. The description and illustrations of the new species are provided, based on male adults, female adults and eggs. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the characters of male and female genitalia and the egg structure.

Anchoscelis (Anchoscelis) fuscomixta noravanka ssp. n. (Figs 1–3, 13, 14, 20) Type material. Holotype (Figs 1, 13): male, “ Armenia | Areni, h- 1240m | Noravank road | 39°41.8978’N | 45°12.6143’E | 5. x. 2021 | Duda & Saldaitis leg.” / “Slide | AV6662 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” (WIGJ). Paratypes (Figs 2, 3, 10, 14): 25 males, 5 females, the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: AV6663 (male) and AV6664 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (AFM, ASV, CAV, BBT, GMF-B, WIGJ). Etymology. The subspecific epithet originates from Noravank, a famous 13th-century Armenian monastery, which the type locality is situated near. Diagnosis. The new subspecies (Figs 1–3) is externally reminiscent of the Iranian A. f. fuscomixta (Figs 4–6) but is distinguished by the pale ochreous body and forewing colouration and pale grey hindwing ground colour whereas in A. f. fuscomixta, the body is brown, the forewing ground colour is brown with intense black irroration, and the hindwing is dark greyish brown. Compared to three other closely related species, the Near Eastern A. pauli (Figs 9, 10), A. consueta (Figs 7, 8) and the Mediterranean A. kindermanni (Figs 11, 12), A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a pale ochreous body and forewing ground colour with a less distinct forewing pattern, and the pale grey hindwing whereas the two congeners have pale brick red body and forewing colouration with a more distinct forewing pattern and the darker, brown hindwing with a reddish suffusion. The male genital capsule of the new subspecies (Figs 13, 14) is very similar to that of A. f. fuscomixta (Figs 15, 16) but differs in the more rounded penicular lobe, the somewhat longer cucullus, and the somewhat more distally dilated costa; from A. pauli (Fig. 17) it differs in the somewhat shorter penicular lobe, the apically narrower vinculum, the somewhat longer harpe, the somewhat more prominent digitus and the somewhat narrower distal section of the valva. Compared to A. kindermanni (Fig. 18), the male genital capsule of A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a somewhat longer penicular lobe, an apically narrower vinculum, a longer harpe, and a shorter and broader distal section of the valva; from A. consueta (Fig. 19) it differs in the shorter and more rounded penicular lobes, the distally thicker harpe, the straight medial costal process (it is curved in the congener), the more apically tapered and upcurved cucullus, and the shorter and basally broader digitus The phalli of the two subspecies of A. fuscomixta and A. consueta are very similar. Compared to the other two congeners, the phallus of A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a long and broad process of the ventral plate of the carina whereas it is extremely short and narrow in A. pauli, and narrow, thorn-shaped in A. kindermanni. The vesica structure of the new subspecies is very similar to that of A. f. fuscomixta but distinguished by the shorter dorsal medial diverticulum, and the somewhat broader distal section with a somewhat longer distal cluster of spinules. Additionally, compared to A. pauli, A. kindermanni and A. consueta, the vesica of A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a shorter distal diverticulum and bears a somewhat shorter distal cornutus. Since the female of A. f. fuscomixta is unknown, the female genitalia of the new subspecies (Fig. 20) are compared to A. pauli (Fig. 21), A. kindermanni (Fig. 22) and A. consueta (Fig. 23) only. In A. f. noravanka ssp. n., the antrum is narrower than in A. pauli and A. kindermanni but broader than in A. consueta, the posterior, dilated section of the ductus bursae is narrower than in A. pauli and A. kindermanni but longer and broader than in A. consueta, the sclerotised band of the posterior section of the corpus bursae is interrupted into two short parts, and the signa bursae are markedly smaller and more weakly sclerotised. Description. External morphology of adults (Figs 1–3). Forewing length 13.0–15.0 mm in males and 14.5– 15.0 mm in females. Antenna weakly ciliate in male and filiform in female. Head and thorax monotonous pale ochreous. Forewing triangular with somewhat elongate and rounded apex, and somewhat convex outer margin. Forewing ground colour pale ochreous, pattern brownish-grey. Subbasal line indistinct, as diffuse spot medially. Antemedial line double, sinuous, with pale ochreous-yellow inner area, oblique outwards posteriorly. Medial line irregularly dentate, wide but diffuse, angled in cell. Orbicular stigma comma-shaped with indistinct margins on veins Cu and R. Reniform stigma with deep outer medial depression, indistinct margin on vein R, and dark brownish-grey inner suffusion posteriorly. Postmedial line thin, dentate on veins, curved anteriorly. Medial and postmedial areas with brownish suffusion between medial and subterminal lines. Subterminal line diffuse, thin posteriorly and dilated medially and anteriorly, interrupted into spots between veins. Terminal line thin, diffuse, interrupted into convex spots between veins. Cilia pale ochreous with admixture of brown scales. Hindwing monotonous dark grey with ochreous-yellow costal and outer margins. Discal spot short, dash-shaped, diffuse. Cilia pale ochreous-yellow. Abdomen monotonous pale ochreous. Male genitalia (Figs 9, 10). Uncus elongate, slender, laterally flattened, down curved, and apically pointed. Tegumen short with large semielliptical penicular lobe. Vinculum somewhat longer than tegumen, narrow but heavily sclerotised, V-shaped with tapered anterior tip. Valva elongate and narrow with almost parallel margins. Costa dilated distally and tapered apically, with long stick-shaped and apically rounded medial process directed ventrad. Proximal half of distal section of costa with wavy ventral margin and short and apically rounded ventral process. Cucullus more or less conical with short and somewhat down curved, apically rounded tip and corona consisting of thin setae. Clasper narrow with large, heavily sclerotized but narrow, subbasally curved harpe directed dorso-distally. Sacculus short with short, semiglobular and weakly setose clavus. Juxta shield-like with strongly elongate posterior section. Phallus tubular, moderately broad, slightly down curved, with short rounded coecum and two heavily sclerotised, elliptical distal plates of carina. Lateral plate of carina with tiny denticle distally, ventral one with short but broad, heavily sclerotised triangular process directed ventrad. Vesica tubular, twisted medially, with dilated and recurved distal section. Medial section of vesica with area of spinulose scobination, short conical and apically rounded diverticulum on outer surface and smaller, semiglobular diverticulum on inner surface. Distal section of vesica with large conical and apically rounded distal diverticulum, long but thin, straight distal cornutus, narrow elongate cluster of tiny spinules and area of granulation. Vesica ejaculatorius directed anteriorly. Female genitalia (Fig. 14). Ovipositor strongly elongate and narrow. Papilla analis elongate and narrow, weakly setose. Apophyses long and thin with dilated tips. Apophysis posterioris ca. 2.5 times longer than apophysis anterioris. Antrum short, heavily sclerotised, trapezoid, with medial depression ventrally. Ductus bursae heavily sclerotised, dorso-ventrally flattened. Posterior section of corpus bursae dilated, asymmetrical with markedly more prominent left side and short and concave ventral crest medially.Anterior section of ductus bursae anteriorly tapered and slightly right curved, with lengthwise narrow membranous area on left side. Posterior section of corpus bursae broadly conical, bearing narrow and bilobate sclerotised plate fused with anterior sclerotised end of ductus bursae, and short and narrow sclerotised lateral plate slightly protruding in basal section of appendix bursae. Anterior section of corpus bursae broad, more or less globular, with broad area of weak sclerotization medio-laterally on right side, and three serrulate elliptical signa of different size medially and anteriorly. Appendix bursae equal in length to posterior section of corpus bursae, semiglobular with short, narrow conical tip, positioned ventro-laterally on right side, directed posteriad. Distribution. The new subspecies is known only from its type locality in south-west Armenia. Bionomics. A series of specimens of both sexes was collected at ultraviolet light during a warm night (+10 °C) in early October in the Gnishik River valley (Fig. 24). Most specimens were collected in the first half of the night.

A new subspecies of the genus Anchoscelis Guenée, 1839, Anchoscelis fuscomixta noravanka ssp. n. is described from south-west Armenia. The new subspecies belongs to the nominate subgenus of Anchoscelis and is similar, besides Anchoscelis fuscomixta (Gyulai & L. Ronkay, 2006), to Anchoscelis pauli (Staudinger, 1892), Anchoscelis kindermanni (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1839) and Anchoscelis consueta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1852). Adults and male and female genitalia of the new subspecies and the similar taxa are illustrated. The habitat of the new subspecies is characterised and illustrated.

Anchoscelis (Anchoscelis) fuscomixta noravanka ssp. n. (Figs 1–3, 13, 14, 20) Type material. Holotype (Figs 1, 13): male, “ Armenia | Areni, h- 1240m | Noravank road | 39°41.8978’N | 45°12.6143’E | 5. x. 2021 | Duda & Saldaitis leg.” / “Slide | AV6662 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” (WIGJ). Paratypes (Figs 2, 3, 10, 14): 25 males, 5 females, the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: AV6663 (male) and AV6664 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) (AFM, ASV, CAV, BBT, GMF-B, WIGJ). Etymology. The subspecific epithet originates from Noravank, a famous 13th-century Armenian monastery, which the type locality is situated near. Diagnosis. The new subspecies (Figs 1–3) is externally reminiscent of the Iranian A. f. fuscomixta (Figs 4–6) but is distinguished by the pale ochreous body and forewing colouration and pale grey hindwing ground colour whereas in A. f. fuscomixta, the body is brown, the forewing ground colour is brown with intense black irroration, and the hindwing is dark greyish brown. Compared to three other closely related species, the Near Eastern A. pauli (Figs 9, 10), A. consueta (Figs 7, 8) and the Mediterranean A. kindermanni (Figs 11, 12), A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a pale ochreous body and forewing ground colour with a less distinct forewing pattern, and the pale grey hindwing whereas the two congeners have pale brick red body and forewing colouration with a more distinct forewing pattern and the darker, brown hindwing with a reddish suffusion. The male genital capsule of the new subspecies (Figs 13, 14) is very similar to that of A. f. fuscomixta (Figs 15, 16) but differs in the more rounded penicular lobe, the somewhat longer cucullus, and the somewhat more distally dilated costa; from A. pauli (Fig. 17) it differs in the somewhat shorter penicular lobe, the apically narrower vinculum, the somewhat longer harpe, the somewhat more prominent digitus and the somewhat narrower distal section of the valva. Compared to A. kindermanni (Fig. 18), the male genital capsule of A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a somewhat longer penicular lobe, an apically narrower vinculum, a longer harpe, and a shorter and broader distal section of the valva; from A. consueta (Fig. 19) it differs in the shorter and more rounded penicular lobes, the distally thicker harpe, the straight medial costal process (it is curved in the congener), the more apically tapered and upcurved cucullus, and the shorter and basally broader digitus The phalli of the two subspecies of A. fuscomixta and A. consueta are very similar. Compared to the other two congeners, the phallus of A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a long and broad process of the ventral plate of the carina whereas it is extremely short and narrow in A. pauli, and narrow, thorn-shaped in A. kindermanni. The vesica structure of the new subspecies is very similar to that of A. f. fuscomixta but distinguished by the shorter dorsal medial diverticulum, and the somewhat broader distal section with a somewhat longer distal cluster of spinules. Additionally, compared to A. pauli, A. kindermanni and A. consueta, the vesica of A. f. noravanka ssp. n. has a shorter distal diverticulum and bears a somewhat shorter distal cornutus. Since the female of A. f. fuscomixta is unknown, the female genitalia of the new subspecies (Fig. 20) are compared to A. pauli (Fig. 21), A. kindermanni (Fig. 22) and A. consueta (Fig. 23) only. In A. f. noravanka ssp. n., the antrum is narrower than in A. pauli and A. kindermanni but broader than in A. consueta, the posterior, dilated section of the ductus bursae is narrower than in A. pauli and A. kindermanni but longer and broader than in A. consueta, the sclerotised band of the posterior section of the corpus bursae is interrupted into two short parts, and the signa bursae are markedly smaller and more weakly sclerotised. Description. External morphology of adults (Figs 1–3). Forewing length 13.0–15.0 mm in males and 14.5– 15.0 mm in females. Antenna weakly ciliate in male and filiform in female. Head and thorax monotonous pale ochreous. Forewing triangular with somewhat elongate and rounded apex, and somewhat convex outer margin. Forewing ground colour pale ochreous, pattern brownish-grey. Subbasal line indistinct, as diffuse spot medially. Antemedial line double, sinuous, with pale ochreous-yellow inner area, oblique outwards posteriorly. Medial line irregularly dentate, wide but diffuse, angled in cell. Orbicular stigma comma-shaped with indistinct margins on veins Cu and R. Reniform stigma with deep outer medial depression, indistinct margin on vein R, and dark brownish-grey inner suffusion posteriorly. Postmedial line thin, dentate on veins, curved anteriorly. Medial and postmedial areas with brownish suffusion between medial and subterminal lines. Subterminal line diffuse, thin posteriorly and dilated medially and anteriorly, interrupted into spots between veins. Terminal line thin, diffuse, interrupted into convex spots between veins. Cilia pale ochreous with admixture of brown scales. Hindwing monotonous dark grey with ochreous-yellow costal and outer margins. Discal spot short, dash-shaped, diffuse. Cilia pale ochreous-yellow. Abdomen monotonous pale ochreous. Male genitalia (Figs 9, 10). Uncus elongate, slender, laterally flattened, down curved, and apically pointed. Tegumen short with large semielliptical penicular lobe. Vinculum somewhat longer than tegumen, narrow but heavily sclerotised, V-shaped with tapered anterior tip. Valva elongate and narrow with almost parallel margins. Costa dilated distally and tapered apically, with long stick-shaped and apically rounded medial process directed ventrad. Proximal half of distal section of costa with wavy ventral margin and short and apically rounded ventral process. Cucullus more or less conical with short and somewhat down curved, apically rounded tip and corona consisting of thin setae. Clasper narrow with large, heavily sclerotized but narrow, subbasally curved harpe directed dorso-distally. Sacculus short with short, semiglobular and weakly setose clavus. Juxta shield-like with strongly elongate posterior section. Phallus tubular, moderately broad, slightly down curved, with short rounded coecum and two heavily sclerotised, elliptical distal plates of carina. Lateral plate of carina with tiny denticle distally, ventral one with short but broad, heavily sclerotised triangular process directed ventrad. Vesica tubular, twisted medially, with dilated and recurved distal section. Medial section of vesica with area of spinulose scobination, short conical and apically rounded diverticulum on outer surface and smaller, semiglobular diverticulum on inner surface. Distal section of vesica with large conical and apically rounded distal diverticulum, long but thin, straight distal cornutus, narrow elongate cluster of tiny spinules and area of granulation. Vesica ejaculatorius directed anteriorly. Female genitalia (Fig. 14). Ovipositor strongly elongate and narrow. Papilla analis elongate and narrow, weakly setose. Apophyses long and thin with dilated tips. Apophysis posterioris ca. 2.5 times longer than apophysis anterioris. Antrum short, heavily sclerotised, trapezoid, with medial depression ventrally. Ductus bursae heavily sclerotised, dorso-ventrally flattened. Posterior section of corpus bursae dilated, asymmetrical with markedly more prominent left side and short and concave ventral crest medially.Anterior section of ductus bursae anteriorly tapered and slightly right curved, with lengthwise narrow membranous area on left side. Posterior section of corpus bursae broadly conical, bearing narrow and bilobate sclerotised plate fused with anterior sclerotised end of ductus bursae, and short and narrow sclerotised lateral plate slightly protruding in basal section of appendix bursae. Anterior section of corpus bursae broad, more or less globular, with broad area of weak sclerotization medio-laterally on right side, and three serrulate elliptical signa of different size medially and anteriorly. Appendix bursae equal in length to posterior section of corpus bursae, semiglobular with short, narrow conical tip, positioned ventro-laterally on right side, directed posteriad. Distribution. The new subspecies is known only from its type locality in south-west Armenia. Bionomics. A series of specimens of both sexes was collected at ultraviolet light during a warm night (+10 °C) in early October in the Gnishik River valley (Fig. 24). Most specimens were collected in the first half of the night., Published as part of Saldaitis, Aidas, Dûda, Juozas, Volynkin, Anton V. & Kalashian, Mark, 2022, Anchoscelis fuscomixta noravanka, a new subspecies from Armenia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), pp. 275-284 in Zootaxa 5175 (2) on pages 276-277, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5175.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7003508

The genus Sweltsa is a small to medium-sized stonefly with distinct coloured wings, giving the species the common name of green stoneflies. It belongs to the family Chloroperlidae. This genus includes more than 55 species world wide, 14 of which have been reported from China.A new species of the genus Sweltsa Ricker, 1943, Sweltsa liupanshana Rehman, Du & Huo sp. nov. from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Liupan Mountain, China is described; this is the second record of Sweltsa from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In addition, the first female description and male supplementary description of Sweltsa hamula Chen & Du, 2017 from Sichuan Province are provided. Diagnosis, description and colour illustration of the new species and of Sweltsa hamula are provided and the morphological characteristics are compared with closely-related species.

Rybalkin, S.A., Benedek, B., Dubatolov, V.V. (2022): New for the fauna of Kunashir Island moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae, Zygaenidae, Tortricidae, Geometridae, Notodontidae, Erebidae, Nolidae, Noctuidae, Lycaenidae). Far Eastern Entomologist 457: 13-32, DOI: 10.25221/fee.457.3, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.25221/fee.457.3

Eudocima salaminia (Cramer, 1777) (Figs 10: C–D, 19: G, 25: C–F, 31: E, 93: A, C) This species is separated from similar E. dividens as described above. It can also be confused with similar E. nigricilia and can be separated as follows: the dorsal forewing background color is lighter and more greenish, the medial patch is more deeply notched the distal side, and the hindwing fringe is checkered cream and black rather than contiguous black. It is a widespread species from India to Fiji in the central Pacific, north to Korea and Japan and south to New Guinea and Australia (Zilli et al. 2017)., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 18, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Cramer, P. (1777) De uitlandsche kapellen voorkomende in drie waereld-deelen Asia, Africa, en America by een verzameld en beschreeven 2. S. J. Baalde & Barthelmemy Wild, Amesterdam & Utrecht, 152 pp., pls. 97 - 192.","Zilli, A., Brou, V. A., Klem, C. & Zaspel, J. (2017) The Eudocima Billberg, 1820 of the Australian Region (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). In: Telnov, D. (Ed.), Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea. Vol. 3. The Entomological Society of Latvia, Riga, pp. 631 - 655, pls. 152 - 166."]}

Eudocima muscigera (Butler, 1882) (Figs 10: J, 19: K, 31: I, 25: H–J) The pattern and sexual dimorphism is similar to E. discrepans but it can be separated as described above. It is found only on the large island of New Guinea and surrounding smaller islands (Zilli et al. 2017)., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 18, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Butler, A. G. (1882) Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera, chiefly from Duke-of-York Island and New Britain. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 5, 10 (57), 226 - 238. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222938209459698","Zilli, A., Brou, V. A., Klem, C. & Zaspel, J. (2017) The Eudocima Billberg, 1820 of the Australian Region (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). In: Telnov, D. (Ed.), Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea. Vol. 3. The Entomological Society of Latvia, Riga, pp. 631 - 655, pls. 152 - 166."]}

Eudocima steppingstonia Brou, Klem, Zaspel & Zilli, 2017 (Figs 15: C–D) The diagnosis is covered in the E. afrikana description. The only specimens are from Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas. It can be distinguished from its southeast Pacific relative, E. oliveri, by its paler hindwings and more elongate medial patch.

Eudocima smaragdipicta (Walker, [1858]) (Figs 8: K, 23: P–Q, 94: D–F) The longitudinal green forewing mark is more irregular than in E. kinabaluensis or E. homaena. Both E. smaragdipicta and E. homaena have a medial patch which is lacking in the E. kinabaluensis group. The life cycle is illustrated by Leong (2009) who found the larvae in Singapore feeding on Fibraurea tinctoria (Menispermaceae). That larvae attained a length of 75 mm, and while resting adopted a typical Eudocima defensive posture presenting a striking pair of ocelli on the third abdominal segment. It is found in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo (Holloway 2005)., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Leong, T. M. (2009) Final Instar Caterpillar and Metamorphosis of Eudocima smaragdipicta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae). Nature in Singapore, 2, 177 - 182.","Holloway, J. D. (2005) The moths of Borneo (parts 15 and 16): family Noctuidae, subfamily Catocalinae. Malayan Nature Journal, 59 (1 - 4), 1 - 529."]}

Eudocima kuehni (Pagenstecher, 1886) (Figs 11: A–B, 20: A, 31: J, 95: C) This large sexually dimorphic species has no medial patch. The outer margin of the hindwing is the least convex of all Eudocima species. The male is unique among Eudocima by having two conspicuous white patches in the discal cell on the otherwise blackish forewing. The female dorsal forewing has a lighter grey background color with prominent contrasting dark patches and banding. Both forewing and hindwing outer margins are more crenulate in the more variegated female. Zilli et al. (2017) record it from Seram, Kei islands, New Guinea, Supiori Island, Rook Island, New Britain, Goodenough Island and Ferusson Island., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 18, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Pagenstecher, A. (1886) Beitrage zur Lepidopteren-Fauna des malayischen Archipels, 3. Heteroceren der Aru-Insein, Kei-Insein und von Sudwest-Neu-Guinea. Jahrbucher des nassauischen Vereins fur Naturkunde, 39, 104 - 194, pl. 10.","Zilli, A., Brou, V. A., Klem, C. & Zaspel, J. (2017) The Eudocima Billberg, 1820 of the Australian Region (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). In: Telnov, D. (Ed.), Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea. Vol. 3. The Entomological Society of Latvia, Riga, pp. 631 - 655, pls. 152 - 166."]}

Eudocima memorans (Walker, [1858]) (Figs 7: I–J, 18: D, 23: J, 30: H, 90: A, D) This species is separated from similar E. anguina as described above. Eudocima collusoria shares a more similar forewing pattern but lacks the small, elongate dark patch on the distal side of the pm line between veins Cu2 and Cu1. The apical line is strongly concave in both species, but in E. collusoria it is distinct between vein R5 and the apex whereas in E. memorans it is barely discernible between vein R5 and its more rounded apex. Eudocima collusoria has a distinct hindwing apical patch whereas there is no trace of one in E. memorans. Eudocima memorans has been recorded as far south as Bolivia and ranges from Ecuador east to French Guiana and north to Costa Rica., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484

Eudocima bathyglypta (Prout, 1928) (Figs 13: C–D, 20: I, 26: C–D, 32: A, 95: J) The forewings are reddish brown with green flecks like E. mionopastea but the inner margin is more deeply concave proximal to the tornal hook. The hindwing marginal band is closer to the outer margin and is more dentate at the veins than in E. sikhimensis. The forewing has a conspicuous greenish patch above the inner margin at the base and proximal to the PM line that is absent in E. tyrannus and E. aurantia. It is found in Indonesia., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Prout, A. E. (1928) Descriptions of some Indo-Australian Noctuidae. Bulletin of the Hill Museum, 2, 256 - 270."]}

Eudocima anguina (Schaus, 1911) (Figs 7: A–B, 23: H) Schaus (1911b) raised the possibility that this species was conspecific with E. collusoria, but these two species differ in wing shape, pattern, and COI 5’ characters. This is one of the three smallest Neotropical Eudocima species (32 mm, n=2), along with E. memorans (33 mm, n=1) and E. collusoria (34–35 mm, n=2). Of the three only E anguina has a fairly straight rather than strongly concave apical line. The forewing of E. anguina has a more pointed apex and tornal hook, and more angular outer margin relative to the other two species. Also, only E. anguina lacks dark hairs and scales in the dorsal hindwing basal area. The hindwing medial patch may be absent (Fig. 23: H). When present the patch does not extend anterior of vein Cu1, whereas in the other two species it extends to vein M2 or beyond. The female dorsal forewing has a white spot on the basal side of the PM line between veins Cu2 and Cu1, lacking in the other two species. This species is rarely recorded from Columbia (Vargas-Fonseca et al. 2020) north to Costa Rica., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Schaus, W. (1911 b) New species of Heterocera from Costa Rica - IV. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8, 7 (38), 173 - 193. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222931108692920"]}

Eudocima procus (Cramer, 1777) (Figs 6: A–B, 18: A, 23: A–D, 30: B, 91: I) This species has a unique hindwing character: the medial patch is expanded into a median band extending across the entire wing from the costa to the inner margin. The band is comprised of four comma-shaped patches fused together. Other Eudocima species have at most two comma-shaped patches fused together. The hindwing marginal band is disjunct from the wing margin except between veins Cu2 and M3. Females without hindwings exposed could be confused with E serpentifera or E. colubra, but E. procus has a contrasting pale triangle on the proximal side of the PM line between veins Cu2 and Cu1, which is absent in the other two species. This species feeds on Odontocarya tamoides (Menispermaceae) in Honduras (Caballero et al. 1994). Eudocima procus is relatively common and widespread from Bolivia and Peru up to Mexico., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 14, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Cramer, P. (1777) De uitlandsche kapellen voorkomende in drie waereld-deelen Asia, Africa, en America by een verzameld en beschreeven 2. S. J. Baalde & Barthelmemy Wild, Amesterdam & Utrecht, 152 pp., pls. 97 - 192.","Caballero, R., Habeck, D. & Andrews, K. (1994) Clave ilustrada para larvas de noctuidos de importancia economica de El Salvador, Honduras y Nicaragua. CEIBA, 35 (2), 225 - 237."]}

Eudocima splendida (Yoshimoto, 1999) (Figs 8: A–B, 18: I, 30: I) This species is most similar to E. kinabaluensis but the forewing differs by a smooth outer margin and the shape of the green patch from base to subterminal area (Yoshimoto 1999). The distal side of the dark discal stigma extends anteriorly as a short projection. This species is only recorded from northern Myanmar (Yoshimoto 1999) and northern Thailand., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 16, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Yoshimoto, H. (1999) A new species of the genus Othreis Hubner (Noctuidae, Ophiderinae) from Myanmar. Transactions of the Lepidopterological Society of Japan, 50 (1), 60 - 62."]}

Eudocima oliveri Zilli & Brou, 2017 (Figs 16: G–H, 28: M) The diagnosis is covered in the E. afrikana description and under E. steppingstonia (above). All three known specimens were collected on the Vanuatu Archipelago (Zilli et al. 2017).

Eudocima phalonia (Linnaeus, 1763) (Figs 16:C–F, 21:K–L, 27:M–T, 28:A–B, 32:L, 33:C–D, K–L, 34:D–F, 35:D–F, 36:D–F, 37:B, G, 38:E–G, 39:E–G, 41:E, 43:E–F, 44:E–G, 45:F, 46:E–G, 47: E–G, 48:D–E, 49:B, 50:D–E, 51:B, 52:D–E, 53:B, 54:D–E, 55:B, 56:E–F, 57:A, 58:B, F, 59:C–D, 61:C–D, 62:C–D, 63:C-D, 64:C–D, 65:C–D, 66:C–D, 67:A, C, F, 68:D, 69:E–H, 71:B, 72: B, 87:B–E) Diagnosis. Separation of this species from the allopatric E. afrikana, E. euryzona, and E. lequexui, and sympatric E. oliveri, is covered in the E. afrikana description. Eudocima phalonia has also been confused with co-occurring E. homaena and E. cajeta. For example, Gilligan & Passoa (2014) is an often-cited reference for screening for E. phalonia; however, their figure 2 of a photo of a live E. homaena from India is misidentified as E. phalonia. This same E. homaena photo is used again to represent E. phalonia on Wikipedia (2021). The third specimen in Gilligan & Passoa (2014) figure 4 is identified as a female E. phalonia, but it is actually a male. For E. homaena, only the males are likely to be confused as the females have a transverse green forewing band not present in E. phalonia. The males of E. phalonia have a fairly uniformly patterned forewing, whereas males of E. homaena have contrasting paler areas distal to the subterminal line and between the postmedial and antemedial lines. Also, E. phalonia has a contrasting lighter band on the posterior edge of the apical line, which may be greenish in fresh specimens. The male of E. homaena also has an apical line, but there is no contrasting lighter band or greenish coloration. Males of E. phalonia and E. cajeta are somewhat similar in pattern, but in E. cajeta the apical line is faint if discernible, without the contrasting lighter band on the posterior side that occurs in E. phalonia. Also, E. cajeta has a more pronounced and pointed tornal hook relative to E. phalonia. For females, E. phalonia consistently has a larger whitish mark on the forewing than E. cajeta. Also, in E. phalonia the forewing has a glossier appearance with more contrasts relative to E. cajeta, which has a plainer, more granulated forewing. Pattern of dimorphism in Fiji. In Fiji there are two male phenotypes of E. phalonia, the typical phenotype and a phenotype which is darker ventrally, particularly in the apical areas, with a reduced medial patch ventrally (Fig. 21: K). Zilli et al. (2017) provided additional differences between these phenotypes, but reported an intermediate phenotype from Guadalcanal, and no meaningful differences in genitalia between the two phenotypes. We sequenced two of the darker phenotypes from Fiji (DNA sequence vouchers 24816 and 24817) and both have the most common COI 5’ haplotype found in typical E. phalonia (Fig. 86). We also dissected a male of one of these specimens (HLK: 2647) and found the genitalia to be the typical E. phalonia morphotype. Given the lack of differentiation in both male genitalia and COI 5’ plus the Zilli et al. (2017) report of an intermediate phenotype, we favor the hypothesis that the second Fiji phenotype represents infraspecific variation in E. phalonia. Life history and bionomics. Most recent Eudocima life history studies have focused on E. phalonia. This species is associated with temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrubs, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (Davis 2005). This species often exposes its bright hindwings while feeding, revealing the medial patch which is useful for separating it from other Eudocima species (Fig. 87: B, E). In a Sarawak orchard it had a 40-day life cycle from oviposition to adult emergence (Kueh 2012). The larvae of E. phalonia use Menispermaceae, but in the eastern part of their range they feed on Erythrina (Fabaceae) (Cochereau 1977). The cocoon may stay on the host plant or drop with the leaves (Waterhouse & Norris 1987). Bänziger (1982) noted that the three Tinospora (Menispermaceae) foodplants preferred in Thailand are most common in more open areas where these tenacious vines can endure drought and generate aerial roots. Foodplants thrive in close proximity to humans where they even survive on telephone posts and wires. In Palawan (Philippines) E. phalonia occurred in disturbed forest but did not come to bait traps in primary forest openings (observation by RJB). RJB also didn’t find it in old growth forest in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where it is widely distributed and not considered a pest. In PNG much of the forest remains intact and E. phalonia is believed to be regulated by native parasitoids such as Ooencyrtus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Telenomus lucullus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) which contributed up to 95% mortality of the eggs (Sands & Liebregts 2005). Bänziger (1982) urged the establishment and protection of forest reserves for control of E. phalonia. He attributed the increase in E. phalonia to replacement of Tinaspora -poor primary forests with secondary forest habitat conducive to their larval foodplants, and to increased cultivation of fruit hosts for the adults. Outbreaks of E. phalonia were reported by Cochereau (1977) in New Caledonia during February and March following a rainfall deficit of over 50% during September to December in the previous year. That outbreak caused an increase in damage to citrus production from 4% in a normal year to 90% after the drought period (Cochereau 1973, 1977). Vargas-Fonseca et al. (2020) observe that the 1968–1969 drought in New Caledonia was prompted by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Benoir & Delcroix 2000) and that these El Niño related droughts likely also triggered other outbreaks of fruit-piercing moths. Intense rainfalls after drought periods can enhance vigorous new larval food production (Ngampongsai et al. 2005). This young plant tissue with greater nitrogen and reduced defensive compounds (Shure et al. 1998) can be linked to the improved survival rate of young larvae (Leroy et al. 2021; Srygley et al. 2010, 2014). Distribution and dispersal. This widespread species is found from India to Australia and east to Hawaii. It has become established on many isolated island chains in the southern Pacific. In Australia E. phalonia can move great distances between breeding sites and fruit orchards (Sands & Schotz 1988). In New Caledonia E. phalonia temporarily leaves the wild figs in the mountains to use larger orchard fruit on the plains but returns to mountain biotopes after fruits are harvested (Leroy et al. 2021). The ability to migrate allows it to leave the tropics during hotter weather to temporarily colonize temperate regions in eastern Australia (Sands et al. 1991). It was first recorded from Hawaii (Oahu) in 1985, and by 1986 it had spread to four other Hawaiian Islands (Kessing & Mau 1993). True E. phalonia does not occur in mainland Africa or Madagascar., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on pages 22-23, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1763) Centuria In sectorum Rariorum. s. n., Upsalia, 32 pp.","Gilligan, T. M. & Passoa, S. C. (2014) Screening aid: Fruit piercing moth, Eudocima phalonia (Linnaeus). Identification Technology Program (ITP). USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S & T, Fort Collins, Colorado, 4 pp.","Zilli, A., Brou, V. A., Klem, C. & Zaspel, J. (2017) The Eudocima Billberg, 1820 of the Australian Region (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). In: Telnov, D. (Ed.), Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea. Vol. 3. The Entomological Society of Latvia, Riga, pp. 631 - 655, pls. 152 - 166.","Davis, E. E., French, S. & Venette, R. C. (2005) Mini Risk Assessment Fruit piercing Moth: Eudocima fullonia Green [Lepidoptera: Noctuidae]. CAPS PRA, US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, St. Paul, Minnesota, 43 pp.","Cochereau, P. (1977) Biology and ecology of populations in New Caledonia of a fruit-piercing moth: Othreis fullonia Clerck (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Catocalinae). Travaux et Documents de l'O. R. S. T. O. M., 71, 1 - 322.","Waterhouse, D. F. & Norris K. R. (1987) Biological Control: Pacific Prospects. Inkata Press, Melbourne, 454 pp.","Banziger, H. (1982) Fruit-piercing moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Thailand: a general survey and some new perspectives. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 55, 213 - 240.","Sands, D. P. A. & Liebregts, W. (2005) Biological control of Fruit Piercing moth (Eudocima fullonia [Clerk]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Pacific: Exploration, specificity, and evaluation of parasitoids. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods, Davos, Switzerland, 12 - 16 September 2005, 267 - 276.","Cochereau, P. (1973) Natural biological control of fruit-piercing moths. Fruits, 28 (5), 367 - 375.","Ngampongsai, A., Barrett, B., Permkam, S., Suthapradit, N. & Nilla-or, R. (2005) A preliminary study on some ecological aspects of the fruit piercing moths in Songkhla Province of Southern Thailand. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 27, 1135 - 1145.","Shure, D. J., Mooreside, P. D. & Ogle, S. M. (1998) Rainfall effects on plant-herbivore processes in an upland oak forest. Ecology, 79 (2), 604 - 617. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 176957","Leroy, L., Mille, C. & Fogliani, B. (2021) The Common Fruit-Piercing Moth in the Pacific Region: A Survey of the Current State of a Significant Worldwide Economic Pest, Eudocima phalonia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), with a Focus on New Caledonia. Insects, 12 (2), 117. https: // doi. org / 10.3390 / insects 12020117","Srygley, R. B., Dudley, R., Oliveira, E. G., Aizprua, R., Pelaez, N. Z. & Riveros, A. J. (2010) El Nino and dryseason rainfall influence hostplant phenology and an annual butterfly migration from Neo-tropical wet to dry forests. Global Change Biology, 16 (3), 936 - 945. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2486.2009.01986. x","Srygley, R. B., Dudley, R., Oliveira, E. G., Aizprua, R., Pelaez, N. Z. & Riveros, A. J. (2014) El Nino, hostplant growth, and migratory butterfly abundance in a changing climate. Biotropica, 46 (1), 90 - 97. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / btp. 12081","Sands, D. P. A., Schotz, M. & Bourne, A. S. (1991) Effects of temperature on development and seasonality of Eudocima salaminia (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in eastern Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 81 (3), 291 - 296. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0007485300033563"]}

Eudocima collusoria (Cramer, 1777) (Figs 7: K–L, 18: E, 23: K, 90: B–C) This species is separated from similar E. memorans and E. anguina as described above. Eudocima collusoria is an uncommon species reported from Columbia east to Trinidad and Suriname., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 15, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Cramer, P. (1777) De uitlandsche kapellen voorkomende in drie waereld-deelen Asia, Africa, en America by een verzameld en beschreeven 2. S. J. Baalde & Barthelmemy Wild, Amesterdam & Utrecht, 152 pp., pls. 97 - 192."]}

Eudocima afrikana Borth & Kons, 2021 (Figs 1: A–C, 15: G–J, 21: I, 27: E–L, 32: K, 33: A–B, I–J, 34: A–C, 35: A–C, 36: A–C, 37: A, 38: A–D, 39: A–D, 41: A–D, 43: A–D, 44: A–D, 45: D–E, 46: A–D, 47: A–D, 48: A–C, 49: A, 50: A–C, 51: A, 52: A–C, 53: A, 54: A–C, 55: A, 56: A–D, G, 58: A, E, 59: A–B, 60, 61: A–B, 62: A–B, 63: A–B, 64: A–B, 65: A–B, 66: A–B, 67: B, D–E, 68: A, C, E, 69: A–D, 70, 71: A, 72:A, H, 87:A, 92:H) The diagnosis is covered in the description (above). Life History and Bionomics. Hargreaves (1936) studied the species now named E. afrikana over an eleven-year period in an orchard in Njala, Sierra Leone. He recorded a life cycle there of up to 37 days beginning with pale green spherical eggs which darkened before hatching in about 3 days. The larvae fed only on Menispermaceae and went through 5 instars. Most larvae were found during October and November on Tiliacora sp. nr. dinklagei Engl., but were also found at various times on Dioscoreophyllum volkensii Engl., Stephania dinklagei (Engl.), Albertisia ferruginea (Diels) and Triclisia patens Oliv. During May and June larvae were generally pale yellow-green and reached 7 cm. At other times of the year larvae typically reached 6 cm. During July and August larvae were all pale yellow to green, and September through November they were primarily brown to black. Larvae have two similar large dark ocelli on the second and third abdominal segments, each with a pale lilac or blue center and a peripheral margin white to pale yellow above and reddish-orange to yellow below. The pupal stage can last up to two weeks in a loose silk cocoon (Hargreaves 1936). As in other Eudocima, E. afrikana is able to pierce hard skinned fruits as well as thick-skinned, soft-skinned or ripening fruits. Zaspel (2008) provided scanning electron microscope images for exemplar Eudocima species illustrating serrated ridges, rasping spines, erectile barbs and socketed tearing hooks, and credited the ventrally serrated cuticular ridge and robust proboscis for the ability to pierce hard skinned fruit. We illustrate these features on the proboscis of E. afrikana in Figs 71: A, 72: A and H. Populations of E. afrikana in Sierra Leone (reported as Othreis fullonica) appeared to be correlated to rainfall with adult activity peaking when fruit availability was highest during the drier months of April and May with an outbreak occurring in 1934 (Hargreaves 1936). Hargreaves noted that in Sierra Leone adults focus on cashews and mangoes in February through April until citrus becomes attractive 4–5 weeks before maturity. Then, in order of preference, sweet lime, mandarin, orange, and grapefruit were attacked with breadfruit and jackfruit also affected. Mangoes and tangerines were pierced in Nigeria (Golding 1945). Unlike most Lepidoptera pests, with Eudocima it is the adult rather than the larva that causes economic damage. Calpinae larvae are not agricultural pests as they feed primarily on Menispermaceae (Zaspel 2008) but the adult moths are piercers of fruits (Bänziger 1982). Fay (2002) noted that E. phalonia inserts its proboscis in a direct straight line penetrating 15 mm into the fruit and may feed at that site for over 30 minutes. Fruit-rotting molds such as Odium species (Muller 1939), Fusarium species (Bänziger 1982) and bacteria (Hargreaves 1936) invade the penetration site leading to fermentation, dark lesions, and premature fruit fall. The piercing hole causes susceptibility to secondary fruit-sucking species (Bänziger 1982). Leaf mimics such as E. afrikana and E. phalonia are difficult to see during the daytime but can often be detected feeding on fruit at the periphery of a crop at night with their eyes glowing in the flashlight beam. Eudocima afrikana is difficult to control with insecticide because the larvae don’t feed on the adult host but are widely dispersed in surrounding disturbed areas (Hargreaves 1936). Furthermore, adults spend only a short time on fruits and spraying pesticides on fruit at harvest time is dangerous for human consumption. Bats are the main predators (Hargreaves 1936) prompting experimentation with solar powered acoustic frequencies to repel the moths (Chikkalaki et al. 2018). Distribution and dispersal: Eudocima afrikana is distributed throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa including Madagascar.Adults are strong fliers (Hargreaves 1936) and may not be restricted to one area, but we are unaware of evidence that they migrate outside their permanent range like congeners E. phalonia and E. apta. We have examined specimens or photos from Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta, Réunion, South Africa, Tanzania, Toga, Uganda and South Africa. Waterhouse & Norris (1987) also recorded E. afrikana (reported as E. phalonia) in Angola, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. Additional distribution records (reported as E. phalonia) are Eritrea (Berio 1941), Gabon and Guinea (Zilli & Hogenes 2002), Malawi and Rwanda (Brou & Zilli 2016), Comoros (Guillermet 2005), Seychelles (Pagenstecher 1907), Somalia (Poulton 1916) Principe and São Tomé (Aurivillius 1910) (see De Prins & De Prins 2022 http://www.afromoths. net/species/show/31586). Eudocima afrikana was not recorded in a study of fruit-sucking and fruit-piercing moths in citrus orchards in South Africa (Goddard 2019).

Eudocima afrikana Borth & Kons, 2021 (Figs 1: A–C, 15: G–J, 21: I, 27: E–L, 32: K, 33: A–B, I–J, 34: A–C, 35: A–C, 36: A–C, 37: A, 38: A–D, 39: A–D, 41: A–D, 43: A–D, 44: A–D, 45: D–E, 46: A–D, 47: A–D, 48: A–C, 49: A, 50: A–C, 51: A, 52: A–C, 53: A, 54: A–C, 55: A, 56: A–D, G, 58: A, E, 59: A–B, 60, 61: A–B, 62: A–B, 63: A–B, 64: A–B, 65: A–B, 66: A–B, 67: B, D–E, 68: A, C, E, 69: A–D, 70, 71: A, 72:A, H, 87:A, 92:H) The diagnosis is covered in the description (above). Life History and Bionomics. Hargreaves (1936) studied the species now named E. afrikana over an eleven-year period in an orchard in Njala, Sierra Leone. He recorded a life cycle there of up to 37 days beginning with pale green spherical eggs which darkened before hatching in about 3 days. The larvae fed only on Menispermaceae and went through 5 instars. Most larvae were found during October and November on Tiliacora sp. nr. dinklagei Engl., but were also found at various times on Dioscoreophyllum volkensii Engl., Stephania dinklagei (Engl.), Albertisia ferruginea (Diels) and Triclisia patens Oliv. During May and June larvae were generally pale yellow-green and reached 7 cm. At other times of the year larvae typically reached 6 cm. During July and August larvae were all pale yellow to green, and September through November they were primarily brown to black. Larvae have two similar large dark ocelli on the second and third abdominal segments, each with a pale lilac or blue center and a peripheral margin white to pale yellow above and reddish-orange to yellow below. The pupal stage can last up to two weeks in a loose silk cocoon (Hargreaves 1936). As in other Eudocima, E. afrikana is able to pierce hard skinned fruits as well as thick-skinned, soft-skinned or ripening fruits. Zaspel (2008) provided scanning electron microscope images for exemplar Eudocima species illustrating serrated ridges, rasping spines, erectile barbs and socketed tearing hooks, and credited the ventrally serrated cuticular ridge and robust proboscis for the ability to pierce hard skinned fruit. We illustrate these features on the proboscis of E. afrikana in Figs 71: A, 72: A and H. Populations of E. afrikana in Sierra Leone (reported as Othreis fullonica) appeared to be correlated to rainfall with adult activity peaking when fruit availability was highest during the drier months of April and May with an outbreak occurring in 1934 (Hargreaves 1936). Hargreaves noted that in Sierra Leone adults focus on cashews and mangoes in February through April until citrus becomes attractive 4–5 weeks before maturity. Then, in order of preference, sweet lime, mandarin, orange, and grapefruit were attacked with breadfruit and jackfruit also affected. Mangoes and tangerines were pierced in Nigeria (Golding 1945). Unlike most Lepidoptera pests, with Eudocima it is the adult rather than the larva that causes economic damage. Calpinae larvae are not agricultural pests as they feed primarily on Menispermaceae (Zaspel 2008) but the adult moths are piercers of fruits (Bänziger 1982). Fay (2002) noted that E. phalonia inserts its proboscis in a direct straight line penetrating 15 mm into the fruit and may feed at that site for over 30 minutes. Fruit-rotting molds such as Odium species (Muller 1939), Fusarium species (Bänziger 1982) and bacteria (Hargreaves 1936) invade the penetration site leading to fermentation, dark lesions, and premature fruit fall. The piercing hole causes susceptibility to secondary fruit-sucking species (Bänziger 1982). Leaf mimics such as E. afrikana and E. phalonia are difficult to see during the daytime but can often be detected feeding on fruit at the periphery of a crop at night with their eyes glowing in the flashlight beam. Eudocima afrikana is difficult to control with insecticide because the larvae don’t feed on the adult host but are widely dispersed in surrounding disturbed areas (Hargreaves 1936). Furthermore, adults spend only a short time on fruits and spraying pesticides on fruit at harvest time is dangerous for human consumption. Bats are the main predators (Hargreaves 1936) prompting experimentation with solar powered acoustic frequencies to repel the moths (Chikkalaki et al. 2018). Distribution and dispersal: Eudocima afrikana is distributed throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa including Madagascar.Adults are strong fliers (Hargreaves 1936) and may not be restricted to one area, but we are unaware of evidence that they migrate outside their permanent range like congeners E. phalonia and E. apta. We have examined specimens or photos from Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta, Réunion, South Africa, Tanzania, Toga, Uganda and South Africa. Waterhouse & Norris (1987) also recorded E. afrikana (reported as E. phalonia) in Angola, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. Additional distribution records (reported as E. phalonia) are Eritrea (Berio 1941), Gabon and Guinea (Zilli & Hogenes 2002), Malawi and Rwanda (Brou & Zilli 2016), Comoros (Guillermet 2005), Seychelles (Pagenstecher 1907), Somalia (Poulton 1916) Principe and São Tomé (Aurivillius 1910) (see De Prins & De Prins 2022 http://www.afromoths. net/species/show/31586). Eudocima afrikana was not recorded in a study of fruit-sucking and fruit-piercing moths in citrus orchards in South Africa (Goddard 2019)., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on pages 21-22, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Hargreaves, E. (1936) Fruit-piercing Lepidoptera in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 27 (4), 589 - 605. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0007485300058685","Banziger, H. (1982) Fruit-piercing moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Thailand: a general survey and some new perspectives. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 55, 213 - 240.","Fay, H. A. C. (2002) Fruitpiercing moths and fruitspotting bugs: Intractable pests of tree fruits in a reduced-insecticide environment. Acta Horticulturae, 575, 485 - 493. https: // doi. org / 10.17660 / ActaHortic. 2002.575.56","Muller, H. R. A. (1939) Overzicht van de belangrijkste citrus - ziekten in Nederlands Indie. Landbouw, 15, 249 - 290.","Chikkalaki, P., Shivanappagol, D., Metigud, V., Balavalad, K. B. & Sankangoudar, K. (2018) Repellent for Eudocima materna: a Fruit Piercer / Sucking moth. International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology, 7 (5), 621 - 625.","Waterhouse, D. F. & Norris K. R. (1987) Biological Control: Pacific Prospects. Inkata Press, Melbourne, 454 pp.","Berio, E. (1941) Contributo alla studio dei lepidotteri eteroceri dell'Eritrea VII. Euchromiidae, Arctiidae, Agaristidae, Lymantriidae, Lasiocampidae, Noctuidae raccolte dal sig. G. Vaccaro nel. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 61, 176 - 190.","Zilli, A. & Hogenes, W. (2002) An annotated list of the fruit-piercing moth genus Eudocima Billberg, 1820 (sensu Poole) with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Catocalinae). Quadrifina, 5, 153 - 207.","Brou, V. A. & Zilli, A. (2016) An overlooked sibling of the fruit-piercing moth Eudocima phalonia (Linnaeus, 1763) from Africa (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Calpinae). Zootaxa, 4109 (3), 391 - 399. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4109.3.9","Guillermet, C. (2005) Les Heteroceres ou papillons de nuit, de l'ile de La Reunion. Vol. 1. Famille des Noctuidae Quadrifides. Association Nature Decouverte et Partage, Reunion, Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts, 532 pp., pls. 1 - 13.","Pagenstecher, A. (1907) Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse 2. Systematische Arbeiten, Bd 2, Hft 2 (Lepidoptera Heterocera von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika: Uraniidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae, Thyrididae In: Voeltzkow, A. (Ed.), Reise in Ostafrika in den Jahren 1903 - 05. Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, pp. 93 - 146, pl. 6.","Aurivillius, C. (1910) Schmetterlinge gesammelt in Westafrika von Leonardo Fea in den Jahren 1897 - 1902. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 3 (4), 494 - 530.","Goddard, M., Hill, M. P. & Moore, S. D. (2019) An Analysis of the Fruit-Sucking and Fruit-piercing Moth Complex in Citrus Orchards in South Africa. African Entomology, 27 (1), 1 - 9. https: // doi. org / 10.4001 / 003.027.0001"]}

Eudocima behouneki Zilli & Hogenes 2002 (Figs 13: E–F, 21: B) This species is similar to E. mazzeii but the black marginal hindwing band is more dentate at the veins (Zilli & Hogenes 2002). This band is also dentate but extends closer to the wing margin in E. bathyglypta, and the forewing of that species has greenish flecks, especially proximal to the PM line just above the inner margin. Unlike in E. bathyglypta the forewing apex of E. behouneki is produced as in E. sikhimensis and E. mazzeii. This species is endemic to the central southern Philippines where it replaces E. mazzeii which is found to the North (Zilli & Hogenes 2002)., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Zilli, A. & Hogenes, W. (2002) An annotated list of the fruit-piercing moth genus Eudocima Billberg, 1820 (sensu Poole) with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Catocalinae). Quadrifina, 5, 153 - 207."]}

Eudocima oliveri Zilli & Brou, 2017 (Figs 16: G–H, 28: M) The diagnosis is covered in the E. afrikana description and under E. steppingstonia (above). All three known specimens were collected on the Vanuatu Archipelago (Zilli et al. 2017)., Published as part of Borth, Robert J. & Kons, Hugo L., 2022, Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae), pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5148 (1) on page 24, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5148.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6605484, {"references":["Zilli, A., Brou, V. A., Klem, C. & Zaspel, J. (2017) The Eudocima Billberg, 1820 of the Australian Region (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). In: Telnov, D. (Ed.), Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea. Vol. 3. The Entomological Society of Latvia, Riga, pp. 631 - 655, pls. 152 - 166."]}