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Review of forest‐dwelling noctuid moths of the genus Pachythrix Turner, 1942 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): reassessment of the type species and description of a new species from the Bismarck Archipelago
Author(s) -
Zilli Alberto
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
austral entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 2052-1758
pISSN - 2052-174X
DOI - 10.1111/aen.12504
Subject(s) - polyphyly , lepidoptera genitalia , archipelago , noctuidae , genus , biology , zoology , type species , ecology , genealogy , history , phylogenetics , clade , biochemistry , gene
The scattered information regarding the Australo‐Papuan noctuid genus Pachythrix Turner, 1942 is consolidated to provide an overview of this little‐known group of bright green and black‐coloured moths. Nomenclatural comments are provided to challenge current opinion that the genus is based on a misidentified type species. Current evidence supporting its systematic relationships and subfamilial placement is reviewed, showing that the present concepts of genera like Thalatha Walker, 1862 and Pachythrix itself are polyphyletic. Pachythrix mniochlora (Meyrick, 1889) is shown to be misplaced in the genus. Pachythrix chlorophylla sp. nov. from the Bismarck Archipelago is described. This species is the first member of the genus to have been recorded from the Bismarck Archipelago, the others occurring in New Guinea and Australia. The new species can easily be distinguished from its congeners superficially by more extended green areas on the fore wing and fewer black, subterminal wedges. Diagnostic criteria and illustrations of all species currently assigned to the genus are provided.