Taxonomical characters of Selidosema plumarium and S. brunnearium (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae) and the function of the internal genitalia during copulation

The genitalia of the Palaearctic species pair, Selidosema plumarium (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) and S. brunnearium (Villers, 1789), are described and illustrated. Keys to the species, based on male and female genitalia, particularly on the internal parts, are presented. Based on indirect evidence, an hypothesis of the functional anatomy of the internal genitalia, i.e. the disappearance of a distinctive ventral angle at the anterior end of the female ductus bursae during copulation, is presented and discussed. The hypothesized functions are compared to the geometrid genus Eupithecia Curtis. Contrary to the earlier held view, it is confirmed that only Selidosema brunnearium is recorded from Finland, from the years 1969 (one specimen) and 1999 (two specimens)

Revision of Neotropical Scythrididae moths and descriptions of 22 new species from Argentina, Chile, and Peru (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea)

The taxonomy of South American Scythrididae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) is revised, based on external morphology, genitalia, male abdominal segment VIII, and DNA barcodes using genetic distances, BINs, and a tentative molecular phylogeny. Data include both historical and fresh specimens from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. Thirty-four species are recognised as valid, and the fauna classified in three genera. Type specimens and morphology of all species are described and figured in detail. DNA barcode sequences of the COI gene were successful for 22 species, the average genetic divergence between species being 5.1%. A key to Neotropical Scythrididae species is provided, based on the male genitalia and abdominal segment VIII, which show most and easily accessible interspecific differences. Our study revealed that the Scythridae fauna of South America is more or less completely unknown. As a result, 22 new species are described, increasing the number of South American Scythrididae species from 13 to 34. All new species are authored by Kari Nupponen (incertae sedis means the genus combination is uncertain and needs further research, country of the type locality is given in parentheses): Rhamphura subdimota sp. nov. (Argentina), R. pozohondaensis sp. nov. (Argentina), R. spiniuncus sp. nov. (Argentina), R. angulisociella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), R. curvisociella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), R. tetrafasciella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), Landryia ankylosauroides sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), L. chilensis sp. nov. incertae sedis (Chile), Scythris directiphallella sp. nov. (Argentina), S. furciphallella sp. nov. (Argentina), S. manchaoensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S. salinasgrandensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S. angustivalvella sp. nov. (Argentina), S. caimancitoensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S. lequetepequensis sp. nov. (Peru), S. sanfriscoensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S. tigrensis sp. nov. (Argentina), S. bicoloristrigella sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S. saldaitisi sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S. wikstromi sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S. andensis sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina), S. mendozaensis sp. nov. incertae sedis (Argentina). The following new combinations are proposed: Scythris depressa Meyrick, 1931 and Scythris dimota Meyrick, 1931 are transferred from Scythris Hübner, 1825 to Rhamphura Landry, 1991, comb. nov. Three species classified in Scythris earlier are now classified as Scythris (incertae sedis): Scythris dividua Meyrick, 1916, S. medullata Meyrick, 1916 and S. notorrhoa Meyrick, 1921. The taxon Syntetrernis neocompsa Meyrick, 1933, recently classified in Scythrididae: Scythris, is excluded from Scythrididae and it is now classified in Cosmopterigidae incertae sedis.Peer reviewe

Frederickia nom. n. , a new replacement name for the moth genus Rindgea Ferguson, 2008 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

A new replacement name, Frederickia nom. n., is proposed for the preoccupied genus name Rindgea Ferguson, 2008 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), and the 14 species previously in that genus are combined with the new name, as follows: Frederickia s-signata (Packard, 1873), comb. n.; Frederickia hypaethrata (Grote, 1881), comb. n.; Frederickia cyda (Druce, 1893), comb. n.; Frederickia maricopa (Hulst, 1898), comb. n.; Frederickia nigricomma (Warren, 1904), comb. n.; Frederickia parcata (Grossbeck, 1908), comb. n.; Frederickia subterminata (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913), comb. n.; Frederickia stipularia (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913), comb. n.; Frederickia flaviterminata (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913), comb. n.; Frederickia ballandrata (Wright, 1923), comb. n.; Frederickia indeterminata (McDunnough, 1939), comb. n.; Frederickia piccoloi (Rindge, 1976), comb. n.; Frederickia disparcata (Ferguson, 2008), comb. n.; and Frederickia prolificata (Ferguson, 2008), comb. n.Peer reviewe

Descriptions of five morphologically and genetically confirmed new species of the Coleophora poecilella Walsingham, 1907 species group (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae) from the Palearctic Region

Five new Coleophora species belonging to the C. poecilella species group are described: C. mirleftensis Tabell, sp. nov. from Morocco, C. embaensis Tabell, sp. nov. and C. charynensis Tabell, sp. nov. from Kazakhstan, C. nupponeni Tabell, sp. nov. from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, and C. tugaicola Tabell, sp. nov. from Tajikistan. The male genitalia of C. hypomona (Falkovitsh, 1979) and the female genitalia of C. trichopterella Baldizzone, 1985 are illustrated for the first time. DNA barcodes are provided for each species, with a comparison to the genetically most similar species.Peer reviewe

A new species of Sacada Walker, 1862 from Thailand (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Pyralinae)

A new species of Sacada from northern Thailand is described: S. chaehomensis sp. nov. Pellinen & Zahiri (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Pyralinae). Morphological characters and DNA barcode data are provided for the new species, with a morphological comparison to S. dzonguensis and S. umtasorensis, and a DNA-barcode comparison to S. ragonotalis and S. albioculalis, respectively. After this addition, the current number of valid species in the genus Sacada is 43.Peer reviewe

Revision of the West-Mediterranean geometrid genus Ekboarmia, with description of a new species from Portugal (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae)

Peer reviewe

Genomic evidence suggests Mesapamea remmi is an imaginary species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Taxonomic status of the noctuid moth Mesapamea remmi Rezbanyai-Reser (Lepidoptera) has remained controversial since its description in 1985. Based on morphology, it has been considered a valid species or a hybrid between Mesapamea secalis (Linnaeus) and Mesapamea didyma (Esper). We studied this case of uncertain identity by using traditional Sanger sequencing techniques (COI and seven nuclear genes) as well as double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing, which resulted in analyses including 9402 loci and 1 512 976 bp across the genome. Our analyses showed that genomic data do not support the hybrid hypothesis and that M. remmi is not separated genetically from M. secalis; both are clearly distinct from M. didyma. Reproductive organs of M. remmi males are unique and diagnosable, whereas females are teratological in the sense that ductus seminalis is missing and corpus bursae is malformed, the latter being connected directly to the ovipore. These data support the view that M. remmi is not a valid species and we consider M. remmi Rezbanyai-Reser, 1985 to be a junior synonym of M. secalis (Linnaeus, 1758). We demonstrate that genomic approaches provide an efficient way to address various difficult and long-standing taxonomic issues, in this case oversplitting of species.Peer reviewe

Characterization of Pleurotinae, with review of Pleurota species close to P. aristella (Linnaeus) from Morocco (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)

Morphological traits characterizing and delimiting Pleurotinae (Oecophoridae) are provided and discussed. The evidence supports the validity of the subfamily as suggested by recent molecular studies. The Pleurota aristella (Linnaeus, 1767) species group is characterized, and six new species belonging to the group from Morocco are described: Pleurota tricolor Tabell, sp. nov., P. pellicolor Tabell, sp. nov., P. lacteella Tabell, sp. nov., P. moroccoensis Tabell, sp. nov., P. ochreopalpella Tabell, sp. nov., and P. atlasensis Tabell, sp. nov. Habitus images and label data are provided for the types of P. goundafella Zerny, 1935; P. insignella Zerny, 1935; P. ochreostrigella Baker, 1885; P. macrosella Rebel, 1900; P. staintoniella Baker, 1888; P. mauretanica Baker, 1888; and P. algeriella Baker, 1885. DNA barcodes of the new species are compared with all available Pleurotinae sequences (BIN n = 117) in BOLD.Peer reviewe

Tribal assignment of the genus Eumera Staudinger, 1892, using multi-gene analysis, with description of a new species from Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae)

The geometrid moth genus Eumera Staudinger, 1892 consists of five yellow-orange-pinkish species distributed in the western Palearctic, with uncertain tribal classification within the geometrid subfamily Ennominae. In this study, we explored the phylogenetic position of the genus Eumera. Therefore, a concatenated dataset was analyzed, which includes one mitochondrial and up to ten protein-coding genetic markers per taxa. Moreover, we compared some external and internal morphological traits to other closely related genera. Our phylogenetic inference and comparative morphology suggested that Eumera should be included in the tribe Prosopolophini. In addition, a new species, Eumera rajaeii sp. nov. Wanke & Shirvani is described from southern Iran, and diagnosed by molecular data and morphological features. The distribution of the Iranian species is shown on a map. We illustrate external characters and male genitalia of three closely related Eumera species.Peer reviewe