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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283861
Title: Phylogenetic Systematics of Schacontia Dyar with a description of eight new species (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Author
item GOLDSTEIN, P. - University Of Maryland
item Metz, Mark
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2013
Publication Date: 4/17/2013
Citation: Goldstein, P.Z., Metz, M., Solis, M.A. 2013. Phylogenetic Systematics of Schacontia Dyar with a description of eight new species (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). ZooKeys. 291:27-81.

Interpretive Summary: Snout moths comprise a large family of moths with over 10,000 species worldwide with many pests of crops including capers. Although 10 million dollars in capers are imported into the U.S. every year, capers are also grown in California and Florida. This paper describes eight species new to science discovered to feed on various caper plants from the Western Hemisphere and therefore potential invasive species. Photographs of the adult morphology are provided including the genitalia and hearing organs. A key to the identification of adults is provided. This information will be useful to scientists, action agency identifiers, and regulatory personnel at U.S. ports.

Technical Abstract: The Neotropical genus Schacontia Dyar (1914) is reviewed and revised to include twelve species. Schacontia replica Dyar, 1914 new synonymy and S. pfeifferi Amsel, 1956 new synonymy are synonymized with S. chanesalis (Druce, 1899) and eight new species are described: Schacontia umbra new species, S. speciosa new species, S. themis new species, S. rasa new species, S. nyx new species, S. clotho new species, S. lachesis new species, and S. atropos new species. An analysis of 66 characters (58 binary, 8 multistate; 6 head, 12 thoracic, 12 tympanal, 2 post-tympanal abdominal, and 25 male genitalic, and 9 female genitalic) scored for all Schacontia and three outgroup species (Eustixia pupula, Glaphyria sesquistrialis, and Hellula undalis) retrieved 4 equally most parsimonious trees (L=105, CI=71, RI=84) of which the strict consensus is: [[medalba + umbra] + [chanesalis + pfeifferi]] + speciosa + [ysticalis + [rasa + [themis + [atropos + lachesis + nyx + clotho]]]]]. The relevance of male secondary sexual characters to the diagnosis of Schacontia species is discussed.