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Title: EXGUIANA, A NEW GENUS OF NEOTROPICAL PHYCITINES (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

Author
item NEUNZIG, H - NORTH CAROLINA STATE
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2003
Publication Date: 1/21/2004
Citation: Neunzig, H.H., Solis, M.A. 2004. Exguiana, a new genus of neotropical phycitines (lepidoptera: pyralidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 106: 554-563

Interpretive Summary: Insects attaching stored products cause millions of dollars in losses each year. Many caterpillars are well known as stored product pests and a new group of moths related to them is described in this paper. The new genus includes one known species from tropical America and three species new to science, two from Costa Rica and one from Brazil. This research is part of a project in Costa Rica to study the Neotropical fauna outside the United States and is an important contribution to knowledge about possible invasive species. Identification keys and illustrations are provided for the moth species so that they can be readily identified by quarantine and scientific personnel. This information will be useful to scientists and action agency identifiers and regulatory personnel at ports.

Technical Abstract: The new genus Exguiana is proposed to receive Euzophera postflavida Dyar and three new species, E. beckeri, E. limonensis, and E. pitillana. Euzophera postflavida has been known only from female specimens, and its generic placement was uncertain until recently when males were collected. A key separating the four species, habitus photographs of males, and line drawings of the wing venation, labial palpus, and antenna of the male, and male and female genitalia are included.