A TaqMan Assay for the Detection and Monitoring of Potentially Invasive Lasiocampids, With Particular Attention to the Siberian Silk Moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae).

The Siberian silk moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetverikov, is a very serious pest of conifers in Russia and is an emerging threat in North America where an accidental introduction could have devastating impacts on native forest resources. Other Dendrolimus Germar species and related Eurasian lasiocampids in the genus Malacosoma (Hubner) could also present a risk to North America's forests. Foreign vessels entering Canadian and U.S. ports are regularly inspected for Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus) and for the presence of other potentially invasive insects, including suspicious lasiocampid eggs. However, eggs are difficult to identify based on morphological features alone. Here, we report on the development of two TaqMan (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Rotkreuz, Switzerland) assays designed to assist regulatory agencies in their identification of these insects. Developed using the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene and run in triplex format, the first assay can detect Dendrolimus and Malacosoma DNA, and can distinguish North American from Eurasian Malacosoma species. The second assay is based on markers identified within the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region and was designed to specifically identify D. sibiricus, while discriminating closely related Dendrolimus taxa. In addition to providing direct species identification in the context of its use in North America, the D. sibiricus assay should prove useful for monitoring the spread of this pest in Eurasia, where its range overlaps with those of the morphologically identical D. superans (Butler) and similar D. pini (Linnaeus). The assays described here can be performed either in the lab on a benchtop instrument, or on-site using a portable machine.

A review of the Stigmatophora palmata (Moore, 1878) species-group (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) with description of a new species from China.

The Stigmatophora palmata (Moore, 1878) species-group is reviewed. A new species, S. danieli Volynkin, S. -Y. Huang Dubatolov, sp. nov. is described for the Chinese populations previously identified by authors as S. palmata. Stigmatophora palmata form inanis Seitz, 1913 is upgraded to species level: S. inanis Seitz, 1913, stat. nov. A new synonymy is established: S. inanis Seitz, 1913 = S. palliduspalmata N. Singh, Kirti Joshi, 2016, syn. nov. A lectotype for Lyclene palmata Moore, 1878 is designated. The distribution patterns of S. palmata and S. hainanensis Fang, 1991 are clarified. Adults and male and female genitalia of all species are illustrated.

Two new species of the genus Nephelomilta Hampson (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) from China and Indonesia.

Two new species of the genus Nephelomilta Hampson, 1900 are described: Nephelomilta wangmini sp. n. (China, Guangdong) and Nephelomilta devosi sp. n. (Indonesia, West Java). Nephelomilta diehli Volynkin ern, 2018 is reported from the island of Borneo (Indonesia) for the first time. Adults and male genitalia of the new and the similar species are illustrated.

On the taxonomy of the Prabhasa / Zadadra generic complex with descriptions of two new genera and two new species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini).

In the present paper, two new genera of the Prabhasa Moore, 1878 / Zadadra Moore, 1878 generic complex are described: Dentadra gen. nov. (Type species: Prabhasa flavicosta Moore, 1878) and Prabadra gen. nov. (Type species: Prabadra occidentalis sp. nov.). Additionally, two new species are described: Prabadra occidentalis sp. nov. (NE India and N Thailand) and Zadadra confusa sp. nov. (Nepal, NE India, Bhutan and W China). The new synonymy is established: Zadadra distorta Moore, 1872 = Zadadra neodistorta Joshi, Kirti N. Singh, 2015, syn. nov. Two new combinations are established: Dentadra flavicosta (Moore, 1878), comb. nov. and Prabadra monastyrskii (Dubatolov, 2012), comb. nov. The lectotype is designated for Lithosia distorta Moore, 1872. Adults, male and female genitalia are illustrated. A checklist of the Prabhasa / Zadadra generic complex is provided.

Lemyra persephone, a new autumnal species from Yunnan, southwestern China (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

The genus Lemyra Walker, 1856 belongs to the tribe Arctiini of the subfamily Arctiinae Leach, 1815 (family Erebidae Leach, 1815). The genus was reviewed by Thomas (1990). Since then, a number of new species was described by various authors (Fang 1993; Inoue 1993; Tshistjakov Kishida 1994; Kirti Gill 2008; Cerný 2011; 2014; Cerny Pinratana 2009; Dubatolov 2007; 2010; Kirti Singh 2016; Saldaitis et al. 2018; 2019).

Barsine wangi, a new species from Guangdong, southern China (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

Barsine Walker, 1854 is a large genus of lichen moths (family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini) including about a hundred of valid species and widespread in Oriental tropics, mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and the southern part of the Russian Far East. During the studies of Lithosiini materials recently collected in the Chinese Province of Guangdong, we found one more, yet undescribed Barsine species. It is related to the recently described B. cacharensis Singh Kirti, 2016 by the male and female genitalia structure, but externally it is more similar to B. defecta Walker, 1854 and B. gratissima (de Joannis, 1930). The species is described below as new.

On the taxonomy of the genus Agrisius Walker, 1855, with descriptions of two new species from Vietnam and Laos (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

Two new species of the genus Agrisius Walker, 1855, A. orhanti Volynkin, Dubatolov Kishida, sp. n. and A. leloii Volynkin, Dubatolov Kishida, sp. n. are described from South Laos and Vietnam respectively. A. orhanti sp. n. belongs to the A. japonicus Leech, 1889 species-group. Whereas, the male genitalia structure of A. leloii sp. n. is intermediate between those of the A. japonicus and the A. guttivitta Walker, 1855 species-groups, therefore, it is assigned to a separated species-group (the A. leloii species-group). Agrisius dubatolovi Orhant, 2012 is downgraded as a subspecies of A. japonicus: Agrisius japonicus dubatolovi Orhant, 2012, stat. nov. Female genitalia of species of the A. japonicus and most of the A. guttivitta species-groups are illustrated for the first time.

Review of the Prabhasa Moore, 1878 genus-group (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

The Prabhasa Moore, 1878 genus-group is reviewed. The male and female genitalia of Prabhasa venosa Moore, 1878, the type species of the genus, are described and illustrated for the first time. Two new genera, Macohasa Dubatolov, Volynkin Kishida, gen. nov. and Chinasa Dubatolov, Volynkin Kishida, gen. nov. and two new species, Macohasa cernyi Dubatolov, Volynkin Kishida, sp. nov. and Chinasa sapa Dubatolov, Volynkin Kishida, sp. nov. are described for Prabhasa venosa sensu authors. Seven new combinations are established: Zadadra plumbeomicans (Hampson, 1894), comb. nov., Zadadra monastyrskyi (Dubatolov, 2012), comb. nov., Macohasa orientalis (Hampson, 1905), comb. nov., Macohasa tetraspila (Cerný, 2009), comb. nov., Macohasa dimorpha (Hampson, 1918), comb. nov., Chinasa costalis costalis (Moore, 1878), comb. nov. and Chinasa costalis bicoloriceps (Strand, 1916), comb. nov.

On the taxonomy of the genera Planovalvata Dubatolov Kishida, Stigmatophora Staudinger and Pseudomiltochrista Dubatolov Bucsek, with description of one new species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini).

The type species of the genus Planovalvata Dubatolov Kishida, 2012, previously incorrectly identified as Eugoa roseivena Hampson, 1894, is described as new: Planovalvata confusa Volynkin, Dubatolov Kishida, sp. nov. Taxonomic placement of the genera Planovalvata and Pseudomiltochrista Dubatolov Bucsek, 2016 is clarified. The combination is revised: Stigmatophora roseivena (Hampson, 1894), comb. rev. Pseudomiltochrista is synonymized with Stigmatophora and downgraded to a subgenus level. One new combination is established: Stigmatophora (Pseudomiltochrista) zolotuhini (Dubatolov Bucsek, 2016), comb. nov. Male and female genitalia of S. roseivena are illustrated and described for the first time.

Miltochrista wangmini, a new species from China (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

Miltochrista Hübner, [1819] is one of largest genera of lichen-moths (family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini) including more than 160 valid species, widely distributed in Oriental and Palearctic Regions. For a long time, the genus was treated in a wide sense. Holloway (2001) treated Miltochrista as a small group of species close to the type species of the genus Noctua rubicunda [Denis Schiffermüller], 1775 (a junior synonym of Miltochrista miniata (J.R. Forster, 1771)), whereas the majority of other Palaearctic and Oriental Miltochrista-like species was assigned to the genera Lyclene Moore in Horsfield Moore, [1860] and Barsine Walker, 1854. Kirti Singh (2016) synonymized Lyclene with Miltochrista and at present the genus is treated in wide sense. Nevertheless, Miltochrista in its modern treatment is a heterogeneous group, the status of Lyclene and some other species-groups with significantly different male and female genital structures is unclear, and the generic/subgeneric structure of Miltochrista sensu lato is under revision by Volynkin Dubatolov (in prep.).

On the systematic position of the genera Paraplastis Hampson, Migoplastis Felder and Dondera Moore (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

Type species of three poorly known Arctiinae genera, Paraplastis Hampson, 1901, Migoplastis Felder, 1868 and Dondera Moore, 1877 are examined. All three taxa are transferred here from the subtribe Arctiina to the subtribe Nyctemerina of the tribe Arctiini. Paraplastis and Migoplastis (= Pachyphilonia Butler) are synonymized with the subgenus Deilemera Hübner, [1820] of the genus Nyctemera Hübner, [1820]. Dondera is synonymized with the subgenus Arctata Roepke, 1949 of the genus Nyctemera, and recognized as the older name for the subgenus. Three new combinations are established: Nyctemera (Deilemera) hampsoni (Swinhoe, 1889), comb. nov., Nyctemera (Deilemera) correcta (Walker, [1865]), comb. nov. and Nyctemera (Dondera) alba (Moore, 1877), comb. nov. The check-list of the subgenus Dondera is presented. Male and female genitalia of N. correcta and N. alba and female genitalia of N. hampsoni are described and illustrated for the first time.

Two new tiger-moth species from Afrotropics with reviews of genera Pericaliella and Monstruncusarctia (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea: Erebidae, Arctiinae).

Two new species, Pericaliella popoudinae Dubatolov, sp. nov. from Rwanda, and Monstruncusarctia anikini Dubatolov, sp. nov. from Uganda are described in comparison with related species, Pericaliella melanodisca (Hampson, 1907) from Uganda, and Monstruncusarctia aurantiaca (Holland, 1893) from Gabon and West Africa. Habitus and male genitalia are illustrated.

A stonefly species extinct in Europe (Taeniopteryx araneoides Klapalek, 1902, Taeniopterygidae, Plecoptera) is thriving in the Irtysh River in West Siberia and North Kazakhstan.

Taeniopteryx araneoides Klápalek, 1902, a stonefly species with brachypterous males, known historically from the Danube, Elbe, and Dniester rivers, but considered to be extinct at least in Europe for more than a century. This species has also been doubtfully reported from Krasnoyarsk, Central Siberia. However, we report this species to be still thriving in the Irtysh River at the cities of Omsk (West Siberia, Russia) and Pavlodar (North Kazakhstan). The occurrence of this species reported least fifty years ago from the Yenisey River at Krasnoyarsk, Russia is considered possible. Unlike the widespread Palaearctic T. nebulosa (Linnaeus, 1758) that occurs in a broad range of stream types, T. araneoides is a potomon species, apparently confined to large rivers. In this habitat, it appears vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts and may be unable to compete with T. nebulosa. The construction of dams and reservoirs has apparently extirpated T. araneoides from most of its former geographical range.

A new Cyana Walker, 1854 from Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

A new species of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854, C. aurantifascia Volynkin, Cerný & Dubatolov, sp. nov. is described from Vietnam. The Cyana dohertyi and Cyana phaedra species-groups are established. The new species belongs to the C. dohertyi species-group. Diagnostic comparisons are made with species of similar habitus belonging to the same and to other species-group. Adults, male and female genitalia of the new and related species are illustrated.

On the taxonomy of the genus Thysanoptyx Hampson, 1894, with description of two new species from Indochina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae).

The taxonomic structure of the genus Thysanoptyx Hampson, 1894 is discussed, and the genus is subdivided into five species-groups. Two new species, T. indosinica Volynkin Dubatolov, sp. nov. from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and T. mirifica Volynkin Dubatolov, sp. nov. from Vietnam are described. Adults, male and female genitalia of the new species and their congeners are illustrated. The checklist of the genus Thysanoptyx is presented.

Revision of Lithosia Fabricius, 1798 and Conilepia Hampson, 1900 (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae).

This paper deals with the revision of the Arctiidae genera Lithosia Fabricius, 1798 and Conilepia Hampson, 1900. Only two species currently are considered to be members of Lithosia, Lithosia quadra Linnaeus, 1758, and Lithosia yuennanensis Daniel, 1952. It is here proposed to consider the Far-Eastern populations of L. quadra as subspecies Lithosia quadra dives Butler, 1877, stat. rev. and the Transcaspian populations of the species are described here as Lithosia quadra ssp. soligena ssp. nov. The lectotype of Phalaena Noctua deplana Linnaeus, 1771, preserved in the Hunterian Museum of London, is designated. Two species, Lithosia subcosteola Druce, 1899 and Lithosia gynaegrapha de Joannis, 1930, are excluded from Lithosia. The rare and local Lithosia quadra sikkima Strand, 1922 is raised to species rank and transferred to Conilepia, comb. et stat. nov. The male of C. sikkima is described for the first time. Three species are considered to belong to the genus Conilepia, among them Conilepia cao sp. nov., which is described from Vietnam. All taxa are described and figured. A scenario for the faunogenesis of the Lithosia-Conilepia complex is proposed using molecular data.

The genus Danielithosia Dubatolov & Kishida, 2012 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) in Cambodia, with description of one new species.

Although the arctiine fauna of Cambodia remains poorly known, considerable progress has been made over the last seven years (Bucsek, 2012; Cerny & Pinratana, 2009; Bae et al., 2012; Dubatolov, 2012, 2013; Dubatolov et al., 2012, 2013). The genus Danielithosia (Arctiinae) was established by Dubatolov and Kishida (2012), with the type species Tigrioides aureolata Daniel, 1954 from Fujian, Sichuan, and Zhejiang, China. To date, this genus comprises 11 species in the world, most of which are distributed in the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Dubatolov, 2013). The genus Danielithosia can be recognized by the following characters: sacculus with a characteristic broadening subapically; juxta long, with a long sclerotized bifurcated process apically (Dubatolov et al., 2012). In Cambodia, only one species, D. hoenei Dubatolov, 2013, has been reported (Dubatolov, 2013), and we here describe one new species from Cambodia. Terminology in this paper follows Dubatolov et al. (2012), and the specimens used in this study are deposited in the collection of Incheon National University (INU), on indefinite loan from Cambodia.

Review of the Olethreutes bowmanana-magadana species group, with the description of a new species from the Amur River, Russia (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae).

We define and review the Olethreutes bowmanana-magadana species group comprised of Olethreutes bowmanana (McDunnough), O. magadana (Falkovitsh), O. kamtshadala (Falkovitsh), and O. pivanica, sp. n., the last from petrophytous sunny slopes in the Amur River. The new species differs from other species of the group by a narrow, triangular-shaped apical process from the sacculus; a round, wide, apical bulb from the cucullus; and a longer, narrow neck of the valva.

Review of East Asian Heliosia (Ledidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) species, with description of a new genus.

Oriental species currently classified in the genus Heliosia Hampson, 1900 but in fact belonging to Nudariini are separated into the new genus Paraheliosia gen. nov.: Paraheliosia elegans (Reich, 1937) comb. nov. (type species) from South-East China; P. rufa (Leech, 1890) comb. nov. from North China (nominotypical subspecies) and Primorskiy Kray of Russia (P. r. ussuriensis (O. Bang-Haas, 1927) comb. nov.); and P. novirufa (Fang, 1992) comb. nov. from Sichuan. Presence of two strong apical spines at juxta apex and basal costal valve processes looks to be well marked autapomorphic characters of the new genus. Heliosia punctata Fang, 1992 is transferred into Elachistidae, Aeolanthinae but to unknown genus.

A new genus of African tiger moths, with a review of the Amsacta melanogastra Holland species group (Lepidoptera, Erebidae).

The relationships of Afrotropical tiger moths remain relatively poorly analyzed (see Goodger & Watson 1995), despite some noticeable new generic descriptions (see Goodger & Watson 1995, Dubatolov 2006a, 2006b, 2009, 2009, Dubatolov & Haynes 2008). While studying series of tiger moths from the Natural History Museum and Manchester Museum, some specimens of "Diacrisia" epicaste Fawcett, 1915 (synonyms include "Spilosoma" occidentalis Bartel, 1903 and "Amsacta" melanogastra Holland, 1897) were found to have genitalia unlike any known Spilosomina genus, and are transferred to a newly described genus as follows.