2014/06/27 by Christian Schmidt, David L. Wagner, Brigette Zacharczenko +2 · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy #Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny #Plant and animal studies
paper · doi:10.3897/zookeys.421.7424
openalex publication_date 2014/06/27 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
The taxonomic composition and systematic position of Agriopodes Hampson is examined through an integrated approach using adult and larval morphology, biology, and molecular sequence data. The type-species of Agriopodes, Moma fallax Herrich-Schäffer is shown to be derived within the Acronicta grisea Walker species-group; accordingly, Agriopodes is relegated to synonymy under Acronicta Ochsenheimer, syn. n. (Acronictinae). Additionally, molecular markers and morphology show that Agriopodes is not monophyletic: Agriopodes tybo (Barnes) is not closely related to A. fallax nor to Acronicta, and is transferred to a new genus, Chloronycta Schmidt & Anweiler, gen. n. The immature stages of Chloronycta tybo comb. n. are described and illustrated for the first time. Although previously treated as a valid species, we show that Agriopodes geminata (Smith) represents the northern terminus of clinal variation in wing pattern of A. fallax and synonymize A. geminata under A. fallax (syn. n.). The history and identity of Agriopodes corticosa (Boisduval), a nomen dubium, is discussed.