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The genus Pangora Moore (1879) is endemic to south Asia, with four known species distributed in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The current study offers the scientific community the first mitochondrial genome sequence of the known species Pangora matherana (Moore). The phenotypic and phylogenetic tree analysis reveals a new species, Pangora keralaensis Abhilash & Adarsh sp. nov., from India. The male genitalia and morphological analysis of the new taxa are also provided. A preliminary phylogenetic tree based on the mt COI DNA sequence is also provided for the new species and the known species, Pangora matherana (Moore, 1879).

In this study, we reassess the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Sesamia Guenée, 1852 and examine in more detail the members of the nonagrioides species group, for which three distinct species complexes are identified. The calamistis subgroup comprises eight species, of which four new species are described: Sesamia kabirara Le Ru sp. nov., Sesamia kalale Le Ru sp. nov., Sesamia mapalense Le Ru sp. nov. and Sesamia teke Le Ru sp. nov. The incerta subgroup consists of 11 species, of which four new species are described: Sesamia kamba Le Ru sp. nov., Sesamia lalaci Le Ru sp. nov., Sesamia lusese Le Ru sp. nov. and Sesamia msowero Le Ru sp. nov. The nonagrioides subgroup comprises ten species of which two new species are described: Sesamia libode Le Ru sp. nov. and Sesamia satauensis Le Ru sp. nov. Phylogenetic and molecular species delimitation analyses of a multi-marker molecular dataset allow us to investigate and clarify the status of Sesamia species and species complexes. Our results yield a well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus, which supports the monophyletic nature of all but one species subgroup. The results of 16 distinct molecular species delimitation analyses show some levels of incongruence and, overall, a tendency towards over-splitting. We also present an updated list of species for the genus Sesamia and provide morphological keys based on male and female genitalia to determine the species group of any Sesamia species and to identify all species belonging to the nonagrioides species group.

We analyzed COI barcode sequences from 138 over-a-century old specimens of Calinaga including 36 name-bearing type specimens stored at the Natural History Museum London. These new data, combined with previously available RPS5 sequences, divide the Calinaga samples into four well-supported mitochondrial lineages that together with a novel wing-pattern analysis, support the recognition of six species (lhatso, buddha, brahma, aborica, formosana and davidis), with all other names subsumed either as subspecies or synonyms. One new taxon is described, Calinaga aborica naima Vane-Wright, ssp. n.

A new erebid, Tabwecala robinsoni gen. nov., sp. nov., from the Vanuatu Islands (Espiritu Santo) (West Pacific Ocean) is described. The new species, superficially resembling species of the genera Artena, Achaea or Leistera, shows a peculiar combination of characters which suggested its placement in a new genus. This is provisionally placed in tribe Poaphilini but following a review of the features purporting to show the separation of Ophiusini and Poaphilini, it is shown that morphological rationale supporting the current arrangement of these tribes is still lacking. Noteworthy modifications affect the hindleg of male Tabwecala robinsoni, with greatly shortened and swollen metatibia bearing a dorsal hair-pencil.

Reticulana sculpta sp. n., a second species of the hitherto monobasic genus Reticulana, is described from New Ireland (Bismarck Archipelago). The new species is similar to the congener R. costilinea from New Guinea, from which it can easily be distinguished by features of the wing pattern and the genitalia

In order to provide information about the diversity and distribution of Eudocima species in Colombia, 261 specimens deposited in entomological collections were examined and identified. We found seven of the eight species of Eudocima recorded in the Neotropics: E. anguina, E. colubra, E. collusoria, E. memorans and E. serpentifera, all being recorded for the first time from the country. We provide a list of the species, comments on the biology and distribution data, illustrations of the adults, and keys for species identification.

It is shown that under the old concept of Platyja cyanocraspis Hampson, 1922 at least six species are intermingled, including two sympatric sibling ones from New Guinea. Four such species are new to science and are herein described, namely Platyja subtracta sp. n. (New Guinea), P. togutila sp. n. (Halmahera), P. vityaz sp. n. (Bismarck Archipelago) and P. yaleyambae sp. n. (Louisiades), while a fifth one from Buru and Ceram is upgraded from subspecific status as P. lecerfi A.E. Prout, 1922 stat. n. A singleton from New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago) closely albeit not entirely matching P. vityaz is also discussed.

It is shown that the correct year of publication of the 2nd edition of Linnaeus’ “Fauna Svecica” is 1761, not [1760].

The systematic position of a large and strikingly coloured reddish-black moth, Cartaletis dargei Herbulot, 2003 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) from Tanzania, has remained questionable since its description. Here we present molecular and morphological evidence showing that Cartaletis dargei only superficially resembles true Cartaletis Warren, 1894 (the relative name currently considered a junior synonym of Aletis Hübner, 1820), which are unpalatable diurnal moths superficially resembling butterflies, and that it is misplaced in the family Geometridae. We transfer it to Noctuidae: Agaristinae, and combine it with the genus Aletopus Jordan, 1926, from Tanzania, as Aletopus dargei (Herbulot, 2003) (new combination). We revise the genus Aletopus to contain three species, but find that it is a cryptic species complex that needs to be revised with more extensive taxon sampling. Our results demonstrate the difficulties in interpreting and classifying biological diversity. We discuss the problems in species delimitation and the potential drivers of evolution in eastern Africa that led to phenotypic similarity in unrelated lepidopteran lineages.

Thraumata gen. nov. is described to accommodate three South American species, two previously placed in Phuphena Walker, 1858, namely Thraumata petrovna (Schaus, 1904), comb. nov. and Thraumata subvenata (Schaus, 1914), comb. nov.; and one, Thraumata peruviensia sp. nov., newly described from Peru. Although the larval biology is unknown, these species share several features that suggest their placement in Eriopinae and, as a consequence, a potential association with ferns (Pteridophyta) as larval host plants.

Morphological evidence supporting the validity of Phyllodes diversipalpus sp. rev. from New Guinea is provided. This species is only superficially similar to P. eyndhovii and P. staudingeri and, having been associated with either of the two, was eventually wrongly subsumed under the latter.

Gespanna amelieae sp. n. from Sulawesi is described. This species is the second member of a hitherto monotypic genus and the first extra-Sundanan one. Despite the close resemblance to G. confirmata (= pectoralis), it can readily be separated from its congener by the different trend of the postmedial line of forewing.

Artena uncinata sp. n. from the Philippines (Luzon) is described. This species is a third member of the A. lacteicincta-A. eccentrica group and can readily be separated from its closest allies by the reduced secondary sexual characters of the male and differences in the male genitalia.

Here we present and justify an approach for minimal-destructive DNA extraction from historic insect specimens for next generation sequencing applications. An increasing number of studies use insects from museum collections for biodiversity research. However, the availability of specimens for molecular analyses has been limited by the degraded nature of the DNA gained from century-old museum material and the consumptive nature of most DNA extraction procedures. The method described in this manuscript enabled us to successfully extract DNA from specimens as old as 241 years using a minimal-destructive approach. The direct comparison of the DNeasy extraction Kit and the Monarch® PCR & DNA Clean-up Kit showed a significant increase of 17.3-fold higher DNA yield extracted with the Monarch Oligo protocol on average. By using an extraction protocol originally designed for oligonucleotide clean-up, we were able to combine overcoming the restrictions by target fragment size and strand state, with minimising time consumption and labour-intensity. The type specimens used for the minimal-destructive DNA extraction exhibited no significant external change or post-extraction damage, while sufficient DNA was retrieved for analyses.

Typhonia lailae sp. n. is described on basis of samples from the Ligurian Alps (NW Italy). The new species is a member of the Typhonia ciliaris-melana complex and though it seems closest to T. melana (= beatricis) by the thick antennae of the female, DNA-barcode analysis places it nearest to T. ciliaris.

The aluco-group of the Indo-Australian genus Anisoneura is revised with characterisation of its component species and updating of their distribution. Types of all but one nominal taxa of the group are illustrated. The concept of Anisoneura zeuzeroides Guenée, 1852 is restricted to sole populations from Western New Guinea, while Moluccan (including Kei Islands’) populations previously ascribed to this nominal taxon are distinguished as Anisoneura sphingoides C. Felder, 1861 stat. rev. (= Anisoneura depressa Hulstaert, 1924, syn. nov.), and those from Eastern New Guinea are re-evaluated as Anisoneura papuana Hampson, 1913 stat. rev. The unusual circumstances of the scarce divergence in genitalia characters between species looking externally different (either sphingoides or zeuzeroides vs aluco) and vice versa, that is species almost indistinguishable in habitus albeit strongly differentiated in genitalia (either sphingoides or zeuzeroides vs papuana), is stressed. Lectotypes to Anisoneura hypocyana Guenée, 1852 and Anisoneura sphingoides C. Felder, 1861 are designated.

One new species of Amphoraceras which has so far remained unrecognised and intermingled within A. rothschildi is described as A. jordani sp. n. Both species are endemic to New Guinea, where they even happen to locally coexist and overlap phenologically. Main diagnostic features between the two taxa occur in the development of the unusual amphora-shaped structure present on male antenna, which is herewith detailed morphologically, aspects of the habitus and features of the genitalia.

The Italian natural history museums are facing a critical situation, due to the progressive loss of scientific relevance, decreasing economic investments, and scarcity of personnel. This is extremely alarming, especially for ensuring the long-term preservation of the precious collections they host. Moreover, a commitment in fieldwork to increase scientific collections and concurrent taxonomic research are rarely considered priorities, while most of the activities are addressed to public events with political payoffs, such as exhibits, didactic meetings, expositions, and talks. This is possibly due to the absence of a national museum that would have better steered research activities and overall concepts for collection management. We here propose that Italian natural history museums collaborate to instate a “metamuseum”, by establishing a reciprocal interaction network aimed at sharing budgetary and technical resources, which would assure better coordination of common long-term goals and scientific activities.

The state of knowledge about the European Bramea, Brahmaea (Acanthobrahmaea) europaea Hartig, 1963, is briefly summarized in relation to growing concern about the conservation status of the most outstanding Italian endemic moth species.

The external morphology and chaetotaxy of the larvae of Heterogynidae (Lepidoptera) are described in order to provide information of potential phylogenetic value for the reconstruction of the systematic relationships within the Zygaenoidea. The most outstanding characteristics of heterogynid larvae are their modified habitus during diapause, the presence of an epipharyngeal lamella, the shape of the prothoracic shield, the presence in the first instar of an organ of unknown function on the middorsum of the mesothorax ("Chapman's organ"), the absence of V2, V3 and Va on the head, the absence of V1 on the prothorax and the presence of two primary setae on the inner side of the proleg, the last trait representing an autapomorphy of the family. A number of possible synapomorphies with the Zygaenidae (e.g. presence of cuticular cavities) suggest a close relationship between these two families, but other larval and adult traits are shared only with the "Phaudinae" and limacodid-group families of the Zygaenoidea (viz. absence of V1 on the prothorax with the "Phaudinae", reduced proboscis and absence of ocelli with them all). Nevertheless, a lack of knowledge of the preimaginal instars of species from some zygaenoid families, and of the homology and polarity of given characters of groups within and outside the Zygaenoidea, hamper a thorough comparison of larvae.

It is shown that under the name Mocis frugalis (F., 1775), considered to represent a widespread pest of graminaceous crops in the Eastern hemisphere and the Pacific, two species have been hitherto confused. Populations from Africa and Arabian Peninsula are described as Mocis proverai sp. n. The main characters which distinguish the African-Arabian M. proverai from M. frugalis of Asia and the Pacific are found in the genitalia, especially the configuration of the male vesica and female bursa copulatrix.