A monographic revision of Euchaetes Harris (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae)

Abstract

Euchaetes Harris, 1841 is a genus of subfamily Arctiinae, family Erebidae. The genus is distributed throughout the New World, with diversity spanning southern Canada, North America, and Central America. The following is a monographic treatment of the genus. A species-level revision of Euchaetes is completed examining 41 species representing 18 ingroup and 23 outgroup species, scoring a total of 75 morphological characters (191 states) including: head, appendages, male genitalia, female genitalia. The revision treats 18 species, including three newly described species: Euchaetes donahuei, Euchaetes gravastellus, and Euchaetes harveyi. All species are fully illustrated with adult habitus and male and female genitalia (when both were available for study). When known, the biology of a species is summarized. Range maps for each species are also provided based upon the material examined in this study. The type of Euchaetes scepsiformis Graef, 1887 is established as the neotype for Euchaetes bolteri Stretch, 1885. Pygoctenucha Grote, 1883, is placed as a junior subjective synonym of Euchaetes Harris, 1841, based on male and female genitalic characters and the placement of the type species P. terminalis within the Euchaetes clade in the phylogenetic analysis. Former species of Pygoctenucha are placed in Euchaetes as either sensu lato (E. enna, E. azteca) or incertae sedis (E. pyrrhoura and E. clitus). Euchaetes bicolor Rothschild, 1935 is transferred to Agaraea Herrich-Schäffer, 1855 based on its shared adult habitus--body shape, wing shape, and wing venation. Euchaetes fusca (Rothschild 1913) is transferred to Cycnia Hübner, 1818 based on the orb-like uncal processes on the male genitalia and presence of rayflower-like signa in female bursae. Additionally, Pagara Walker, 1856 is placed as a junior subjective synonym of Agaraea Herrich-Schäffer, 1855 based on the shared morphology of the male genitalic capsules.