Taxonomic notes on Neotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera).

Genomic sequencing (or morphology when indicated) and analysis of Hesperiidae that includes a number of primary type specimens reveals inconsistencies between the phylogenetic trees and the current classification that are resolved here. The following taxonomic changes are proposed. Oeonus Godman, 1900, stat. nov. is a subgenus of Oxynthes Godman, 1900. Decinea lydora (Plötz, 1882), stat. rev. is a valid species, not a synonym of Lindra neroides (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869), comb. nov. The following are: species-level taxa, not subspecies: Cabirus junta Evans, 1952, stat. nov. and Cabirus purda Evans, 1952, stat. nov. (not Cabirus procas (Cramer, 1777)), Orthos hyalinus (E. Bell, 1930), stat. rest. and Orthos minka Evans, 1955, stat. nov. (not Orthos orthos (Godman, 1900)), Eprius obrepta (Kivirikko, 1936), stat. rest. (not Eprius veleda (Godman, 1901)), Corra catargyra (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867), stat. rest. and Corra conka (Evans, 1955), stat. nov. (not Corra coryna (Hewitson, 1866)), Cymaenes macintyrei Hayward, 1939, stat. rest. (not Cymaenes tripunctata (Latreille, [1824])), Duroca lenta (Evans, 1955), stat. rest. (not Duroca duroca Plötz, 1882), Oarisma (Copaeodes) favor (Evans, 1955), stat. nov. (not Oarisma (Copaeodes) jean (Evans, 1955)), Panoquina eugeon (Godman & Salvin, 1896), stat. rest., Panoquina calna Evans, 1955, stat. nov. and Panoquina albistriga O. Mielke, 1980, stat. nov. (not Panoquina panoquinoides (Skinner, 1891)); subspecies-level taxa, not species: Carystus elvira rufoventris Austin & O. Mielke, 2007, stat. nov.; junior subjective synonyms: Bungalotis gagarini O. Mielke, 1967, syn. nov. of Bungalotis corentinus (Plötz, 1882), Salantoia dinka (Evans, 1952), syn. nov. of Adina adrastor (Mabille and Boullet, 1912), Lindra brasus ackeryi O. Mielke, 1978, stat. nov. of Lindra neroides neroides (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) (but Lindra brasus (O. Mielke, 1968) is still a valid species), Vidius felus O. Mielke, 1968, syn. nov. of Vidius dagon (Evans, 1955), comb. nov., and Cobalopsis dorpa de Jong, 1983, syn. nov. of Vidius catocala (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869), comb. nov.; new genus-species combinations: Oxynthes (Oxynthes) egma (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (not Oeonus Godman, 1900), Lindra neroides (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869), comb. nov. (not Decinea Evans, 1955), Mucia rusta (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (not Psoralis Mabille, 1904), Rhomba mirnae (Siewert, Nakamura & O. Mielke, 2014), comb. nov. (not Alychna Grishin, 2019), Eprius planus (Weeks, 1901), comb. nov. and Eprius penna (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (changed based on morphology) (not Mnasicles Godman, 1901), Lattus minor (O. Mielke, 1967), comb. nov. (not Eutocus Godman, 1901), Panca fiedleri (Carneiro, O. Mielke & Casagrande, 2015), comb. nov., Eutocus rogan (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (changed based on morphology and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcode) and Eutocus brasilia (Carneiro, O. Mielke & Casagrande, 2015), comb. nov. (not Ginungagapus Carneiro, O. Mielke & Casagrande, 2015), Eutocus fosca (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (not Artines Godman, 1901), Rectava cascatona (O. Mielke, 1992), comb. nov. (not Papias Godman, 1900), Lurida zama (Hayward, 1939), comb. nov. and Vehilius campestris (O. Mielke, 1980), comb. nov. (not Cymaenes Scudder, 1872), Corra xanthus (O. Mielke, 1989), comb. nov., Cymaenes catarinae (O. Mielke, 1989), comb. nov., Vehilius spitzi (O. Mielke, 1967), comb. nov., Vehilius tinta (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (not Vidius Evans, 1955), Cymaenes incomptus (Hayward, 1934), comb. nov. and Vehilius tanta (Evans, 1955), comb. nov. (not Nastra Evans, 1955), Vidius catocala (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869), comb. nov. Vidius cocalus (Hayward, 1939), comb. nov., Vidius dagon (Evans, 1955), and Vidius obscurior (Hayward, 1934), comb. nov. (not Cobalopsis Godman, 1900), Duroca caraca (O. Mielke, 1992), comb. nov. (not Lerema Scudder, 1872), and Cantha eteocla (Plötz, 1882), comb. nov. and Cantha buriti (O. Mielke, 1968), comb. nov. (not Phlebodes Hübner, [1819]); and new species-subspecies combinations: Lindra neroides huxleyi O. Mielke, 1978, comb. nov. (not Lindra brasus (O. Mielke, 1968)), Corra conka argentus (H. Freeman, 1969), stat. nov. (not Corra coryna (Hewitson, 1866)), Panoquina eugeon minima de Jong, 1983, comb. nov. (not Panoquina panoquinoides (Skinner, 1891)). The following neotype and lectotypes are designated to ensure nomenclatural identity and stability: neotype of Cobalus neroides Herrich-Schäffer, 1869 and lectotypes of Cobalus catocala Herrich-Schäffer, 1869 and Lerema elgina Schaus, 1902.

Lessons from the genomic analysis of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) holotypes in the MIZA collection (Maracay, Venezuela).

Genomic sequencing and analysis of holotypes from the MIZA collection (Maracay, Venezuela) and their comparison with other species and their type specimens advances our understanding of their taxonomy. Jemadia demarmelsi Orellana, [2010] is confirmed as a species-level taxon and its female is genetically verified. The following are species-level taxa, not subspecies: Amenis pedro O. Mielke & Casagrande, 2022, stat. nov. (not Amenis pionia (Hewitson, 1857)) and Jemasonia sosia (Mabille, 1878), stat. rest. (not Jemasonia hewitsonii (Mabille, 1878)). Amenis ponina rogeri Orellana, [2010], stat. nov. and Jemasonia pater ortizi (Orellana, [2010]), stat. nov. are subspecies, not species. Jemadia pseudognetus imitator (Mabille, 1891), comb. nov. (not Jemadia hospita (Butler, 1877)) and Damas cervelina Orellana & Costa, 2019, comb. nov. (not Megaleas Godman, 1901) are new combinations.

Three new Chinese species of Palpifer Hampson from the collection of Franz Daniel (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).

New Chinese Palpifer species are described from Yunnan and Fujian provinces. The male of Palpifer nielseni sp. n. is described from specimens housed at the Witt Museum Weiden and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, while a male of P. chui sp. n. and a male and female of Palpifer climoi sp. n., are described from specimens in the latter collection only. Specimens were originally part of the Franz Daniel collection, collected in 1934-1935 from elevations of 2,300 and 3,000 m. The new species are diagnosed primarily by differences in the male genitalia. The female genitalia of P. climoi sp. n. represent the second published description for Palpifer. Four unique features of the forewing supporting monophyly of Palpifer are discussed.

Descriptions of two new genera and six new species of ghost-moths (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) from south-eastern and southern Brazil.

Agripialus gen. n. and Mutipialus gen. n. are described to accommodate the following species: A. campos sp. n., A. variabilis sp. n., A. itatiaia sp. n., A. caparao sp. n., M. dilatus sp. n., and M. monticolus sp. n. All are from southeastern and southern Brazil. Diagnostic characters suggest a closer phylogenetic relationship between these two genera, than to any other described genus.

Taxonomic composition and monophyly of the genus Magnificus (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae).

The genus Magnificus Yan, 2000 was originally established to include M. jiuzhiensis Yan, 2000 and M. zhiduoensis Yan, 2000. Here we also include the species M. bouvieri (Oberthür, 1913) comb. n., M. dirschi (Bang-Haas, 1939) comb. n., M. miniatus (Chu Wang, 1985a) comb. n., M. regius (Staudinger, 1896) comb. n., and M. roseus (Oberthür, 1911) comb. n. Monophyly of Magnificus is supported by the shared presence of a unique shape of the tergosternal sclerite in the anterio-abdominal region and pseudoteguminal arm in the male genitalia. We also provide evidence for the inclusion of Magnificus and the northern Eurasian genera Hepialus Fabricius, Pharmacis Hübner, Triodia Hübner and Zenophassus Tindale as members of a larger monophyletic group supported by the shared presence in the male genitalia of a deep U-shaped medial notch in the posterior margin of the saccus and an expanded triangular flange at the lateral corners of the notch. The reciprocally allopatric distribution of Magnificus and its probable sister group is consistent with each originating locally by vicariance over different parts of a widespread ancestral range. This divergence may be the result of tectonic uplift in central Asia.

Taxonomic revision of Schausiana Viette with two new species from Guatemala and notes on biogeography and correlated tectonics (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).

We morphologically validate the genus Schausiana Viette, 1950 as a monophyletic group comprising five species-S. phalerus (Druce, 1887) comb. n. and S. trojesa (Schaus, 1901) from Mexico, S. chalciope sp. n. and S. maishei sp. n. from Guatemala and S. pharus (Druce, 1887) comb. n. from Mexico to Costa Rica. Potential morphological monophyly of the genus is supported by the unique shared presence of specialized scales spine-like, elongate spinous, or piliform, located along the forewing veins. We investigate possible close phylogenetic relationships of this genus with the Mexican and Central American genera Pallas C. Mielke Grehan, 2015, and Phassus Walker, 1856, and the southeastern Brazilian genus, Phthius C. Mielke Grehan, 2017. Also discussed are the shared presence of several characters supporting the morphological monophyly of Schausiana, Phassus, and Pallas as 'phassine' Hepialidae. The distribution range of Schausiana is bounded in its northwestern range by the Guerrero terrane. Other than the widespread S. pharus with a disjunct record from Costa Rica, the southern distribution boundary corresponds to the Motagua-Polochic Fracture Zone in Guatemala. We suggest that the ancestral range of Schausiana did not include the Guerrero terrane and was possibly also absent from the Chocos Block (Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) and the Costa Rica-Panama arc of Central America. Further divergence of Schausiana is predicted to have been influenced by tectonic events during late Cretaceous or early Cenozoic time. Colour photos are presented for all species for the first time. Holotypes of S. maishei, sp. n., and S. chalciope, sp. n., are deposited in the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala.

Ghost-moths of Trinidad and Tobago with description of a new genus and a new species (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).

The Hepialidae species of Trinidad and Tobago are documented and two species are recognized. The new and monotypic genus Wallacella, gen. n., (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae) is erected to include Phassus guianensis Schaus of Guyana (Wallacella guianensis, comb. n.). The male holotype and genitalia are also illustrated for the first time. Potential generic affinities with Druceiella (Viette) and Pfitzneriana (Viette) are considered. Gymelloxes juliusboosi sp. n. is described from Trinidad and Tobago and compared to its congeneric species. The sternite VIII and male genitalia are diagnostic for this new species. The male holotype is deposited in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London, UK.

Morphological notes on Gazoryctra sciophanes (Ferguson) and G. confusus (Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae).

The genus Gazoryctra Hübner comprises 10 species in North America and four in northern Eurasia. The remaining diversity of North American Hepialidae is represented by four species of Sthenopis Packard, three species of Phymatopus Wallengren, and one species of Korscheltellus Börner (Nielsen et al. 2000; Grehan Knyazev 2019). The North American distribution of Gazoryctra extends between Alaska and southern Appalachians and southern Rocky Mountains (Grehan Mielke 2018). As with other North American Hepialidae, Gazoryctra is absent from much of the southern-central United States where there is ostensibly suitable habitat present as this genus is found in forested regions where it is believed to feed on roots or other organic matter (Schweitzer et al. 2011). This absence may be due to the lack of colonization following regression of inland seas that covered much of this region until the end of the Mesozoic (Grehan Mielke 2018).

New species of Procinnus Herbin and Micrallo St Laurent and C. Mielke (Lepidoptera, Mimallonidae, Druenticinae) from the Brazilian Cerrado.

Two new species of Mimallonidae are described from the Brazilian Cerrado. One species belongs to Procinnus Herbin, 2016 and the second to Micrallo St Laurent and C. Mielke, 2016, both considered to belong to Druenticinae St Laurent and Kawahara, 2018. Procinnus incanus sp. n. is described from Bahia, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo and is characterized by its wing habitus and male genitalia. Micrallo macro sp. n., the second species to be placed in Micrallo, is described from Minas Gerais. It differs from M. minutus St Laurent and C. Mielke, 2016 by larger size and distinct genitalia of both the male and female. All taxa involved are figured along with their genitalia. Holotypes designated here are deposited in the Coll. Padre Jesus S. Moure, in the Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Description of Walkeriella miraculosa, gen. n. et sp. n. from South-East Peru (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae).

Walkeriella miraculosa gen. n. et sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) is based on two specimens collected from rainforest southwest of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Madre de Dios department, southeastern Peru. The distinct genitalia and wing venation separate this taxon from other genera of Hepialidae although four derived characters states are shared in common with the cibyrine clade. The holotype male is deposited in the collection of the Museo de Historia Natural, Lima, Peru.

Evolutionary biogeography and tectonic history of the ghost moth families Hepialidae, Mnesarchaeidae, and Palaeosetidae in the Southwest Pacific (Lepidoptera: Exoporia).

The biogeographic history of Exoporia (Lepidoptera) in the Southwest Pacific is reconstructed for genera and species that show distributional boundaries corresponding to tectonic structures in the region. Correlations with tectonic formations of Mesozoic origin such as the Whitsunday Volcanic Province and Otway-Bass-Gippsland Basin system in Australia, the Vitiaz Fracture Zone in northern Melanesia, and the Western Province-Eastern Province boundary, Waitaki Fault Zone, and Waihemo Fault Zone of New Zealand are presented as evidence of an East Gondwana origin for genera and species before the geological separation of Australia and New Zealand. The correlated boundaries also suggest that many extant species retain at least parts of their original East Gondwana distribution ranges. The presence of Exoporia on the northern Melanesian Arc, New Caledonia, and New Zealand is attributed to the tectonic isolation of these areas when East Gondwana expanded into the Pacific following retreat of the Pacific Plate subduction zone. Local endemism of Mnesarchaeidae in New Zealand is interpreted as the result of an original vicariance from a widespread ancestor ('Exoporia') resulting in two allopatric descendants -a narrowly distributed Mnesarchoidea and a widely distributed Hepialoidea. The current overlap of these two groups in New Zealand is explained as the result of subsequent range expansion by the Hepialoidea prior to geological fragmentation of East Gondwana. The potential impact of Cretaceous geography on modern distributions is also considered for Exoporia in southern Africa and northern America. Along with lateral displacement of Exoporia, tectonic processes also contributed to the origin of high elevation endemics through a process of passive tectonic uplift.

New species of Dugdaleiella, gen. nov., Kozloviella, gen. nov., and Pfitzneriella Viette from upper elevation Andes of Ecuador and Peru (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).

Six new Hepialidae species are described from high elevation habitats in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador. One species is assigned to the genus Kozloviella gen. n., K. viazmenskyi sp. n., from Peru, and five to the genus Pfitzneriella Viette, 1951: P. antonkozlovi sp. n., P. olafi sp. n., P. titarenkoi, sp. n., P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. from Peru and P. rawlinsi sp. n., from Ecuador. Dugdaleiella gen. n., is proposed to accommodate the Ecuadorian species Dugdaleiella monticola (Maassen, 1890) comb. n., formerly placed in Pfitzneriella. The taxonomic (but not the phylogenetic) status of P. lucicola (Maassen, 1890) is unaltered pending future opportunity to examine the type series. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the morphological characters supports Kozloviella gen. n., and Pfitzneriella as sister taxa, and separates P. titarenkoi sp. n., from the other species of Pfitzneriella. We suggest that the ancestor of these high elevation genera already occupied a pre-Andean upland habitat across Peru and Ecuador and this ancestor further diverged into the modern genera and species during the Andean orogeny. We consider it likely that there is a considerable diversity of endemic high elevation Hepialidae that remains to be discovered in the eastern Andes between Venezuela and Bolivia.

The identity of Cicinnus orthane Blanchard, 1852 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonidae, Cicinninae), type species of Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852.

In order to clarify the identity of the type species of one of the most diverse Mimallonidae genera, Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852, we designate a lectotype for Cicinnus orthane Blanchard, 1852 with photographs of the lectotype (dorsal and ventral) and its genitalia figured for the first time. Cicinnus orthane, described from Chile, is a close morphological match for a southeastern Brazilian species, which we also illustrate for comparative purposes. Because the lectotype of C. orthane is female, we include both sexes of this related Brazilian species in order to facilitate the figuring of male genitalia as well as comparisons of the female genitalia. We are therefore able to establish sound morphological characteristics for Cicinnus sensu stricto, namely in the males the bifid configuration of the gnathos, a complex juxtal arrangement fused to the phallus, and largely membranous valvae; and in the females a wide and narrow lamella antevaginalis, lack of setae covered bulbous masses on either side of the lamella antevaginalis, well-sclerotized and posteriorly protruding tergite VIII, and reduced, stout apophyses anteriores which are about one quarter the length of the apophyses posteriores.

Saturniid moths (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea) from an Atlantic Rain Forest fragment in southeastern Brazil.

The light-attracted silk moths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) of the Boraceia Biological Station in the municipality of Salesópolis, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil have been sampled over more than seven decades (1942-2013). A total of 6,288 individuals (including a gynandromorph) belonging to five subfamilies, 46 genera and 133 species were identified. Hemileucinae was the most abundant and speciesrich subfamily, followed by Ceratocampinae, Arsenurinae, Saturniinae, and Oxyteninae. Hylesia Hübner, Automeris Hübner, and Dirphiopsis Bouvier (Hemileucinae) were the dominant genera in abundance and species richness. Only Automeris illustris (Walker), Gamelia remissoides Lemaire, and Hidripa paranensis (Bouvier) (Hemileucinae) were recorded in all months of sampling. Hylesia metapyrrha (Walker) was the most abundant saturniid species recorded at the station, with 375 specimens, followed by Hylesia oratex Dyar with 265 specimens, Dirphia muscosa Schaus with 261 specimens (all Hemileucinae); Copaxa canella Walker (Saturniinae) with 232 specimens, and Lonomia cf. obliqua Walker (Hemileucinae) with 106 specimens. Fifteen additional species were each represented by more than 100 specimens. The importance of the Boraceia Biological Station to the maintenance of the saturniid moth diversity in the Atlantic Forest is discussed.

Re-characterization of Gymelloxes with a re-description of Gymelloxes terea from Central America (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).

The hepialid genus Gymelloxes Viette, 1952 is characterized by, and differs from all other genera, by the male genitalia and a combination of characters. G. terea is redescribed due to the brevity of the original description. The male genitalia of Gymelloxes terea (Schaus, 1892) include two features that are unique within the Hepialidae - a posteriorly angled and digitiform tergal lobe, and two shallow, peg-like processes on the posterior margin of the saccus. The male phallus also exhibits minute sclerotized spicules or spots on the apex of an otherwise membranous tube. The external genitalia of the female includes a sclerotized antevaginalis with a broad, dorsally projecting, flat central margin. The species is included within the cibyrine clade of Hepialidae by the structure of the tergosternal connection and narrow spacing between Sc and R on the hindwing. The potential systematic significance of specialized similarities shared with other cibyrine Hepialidae is discussed. A lectotype of Dalaca terea Schaus, 1892 is here designated.

Revision of the genus Reinmara Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the descriptions of four new species from South America.

The mimallonid genus Reinmara Schaus, 1928 is revised. The three previously described species, R. enthona (Schaus, 1905), R. minasa Schaus, 1928, and R. wolfei Herbin & C. Mielke, 2014 are redescribed and the females of each are described and figured for the first time. Additionally, we describe four new species, two Andean: R. andensissp. n. and R. occidentalissp. n., and two Brazilian: R. atlanticasp. n. and R. igneasp. n.. The new species R. ignea and R. atlantica are likely of conservation concern due to their rarity in collections and their apparent endemism to an endangered biome, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Revision of the genus Tarema Schaus, 1896 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of a new species from southeastern Brazil.

The genus Tarema Schaus, 1896 is revised. The species Tarema fuscosa Jones, 1908 and Tarema rivara Schaus, 1896 are redescribed, the female of the former is described and figured for the first time, and the genitalia of both sexes for each species are figured for the first time. The lectotype of Tarema macarina Schaus, 1928, syn. n. is determined to be the female of Tarema rivara. Tarema brunasp. n. is described from São Paulo, Brazil. Lectotypes for Tarema fuscosa, Tarema rivara, and Tarema macarina are here designated.

Three new genera of Neotropical Mimallonidae (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with descriptions of three new species.

Three new genera of Mimallonidae are described. The monotypic genus Tostallo gen. n. is erected to contain "Perophora" albescens Jones, 1912, which was previously placed in the preoccupied genus Perophora Harris, 1841 and was never formally moved to a valid genus. Perophora is a junior homonym of Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852, but the name albescens is not appropriately placed in Cicinnus due to external and genitalia characteristics entirely unique to the species albescens. The female of Tostallo albescens comb. n. is described and both sexes are figured for the first time. Auroriana gen. n. is erected to contain Auroriana florianensis (Herbin, 2012), comb. n. previously described as Cicinnus florianensis, and two new species: Auroriana colombiana sp. n. from Colombia and Auroriana gemma sp. n. from southeastern and southern Brazil. The female of Auroriana florianensis is described and figured for the first time. Finally, the monotypic genus Micrallo gen. n. is erected to include a new species, Micrallo minutus sp. n. described from northeastern Brazil.

Abdominal macrochaetae of female Hylesia oratex Dyar, 1913 (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Saturniidae): external morphology and medical significance.

The representatives of the genus Hylesia Hübner, [1820] are significant among the medically important Lepidoptera. Adult females use abdominal setae to wrap and protect the eggs that remain for months in nature. These setae, in contact with human skin, may cause allergic reactions including swelling, itching and local erythema, known as lepidopterism. The morphology of the abdominal scales and setae from the female H. oratex Dyar, 1913 is herein described and aspects related to their medical significance are discussed. Portions of each abdominal segment were examined through a scanning electron microscope. Two types of scales without medical importance, and two types of setae with medical importance, classified as "true setae" and "modified setae" were found. The true setae, which are slightly fusiform and have radially arranged lateral projections, are responsible for the allergic reactions caused by skin penetration. The modified setae, which are larger, curved, with the median enlarged and serrated margins, can be responsible for the release of chemical substances. This information provides a better understanding of the structure of the urticating setae, which are responsible for lepidopterism outbreaks in humans, and contributes towards the identification of the moth species involved.