Monday, November 23, 2015

Three new geometer moths: Hagnagora richardi, H. hedwigae, H. mirandahenrichae

Many of the Caterpillars of the Geometridae pull their bodies into loops as they move. These Caterpillars lack the first two or three pairs of prolegs, so that looping is their best means of progression. It is this movement that gave them their name which is Latin and means "earth measurer". They are also very often called Inch Worms because they measure off one inch at a time as they progress. This method of progression has been suggested as being specially suitable for moving over rough terrain.

The three new species were found in Ecuador and Costa Rica and named after several sponsors (Mr Richard Philipp, Mrs Hedwig Seppelt, Ms. Miranda Henrich), of the taxonomic research on Geometrids.

For the experts: Three new Hagnagora Druce species (Geometridae, Larentiinae) are described: Hagnagora richardi Brehm, sp. n. from Ecuador, H. hedwigae Brehm, sp. n. from Ecuador, and H. mirandahenrichae Brehm, sp. n. from Costa Rica. A checklist of taxa assigned to Hagnagora is provided. Hagnagora is provisionally divided into six clades: the anicata clade (6 species), the buckleyi clade (3 species), the croceitincta clade (3 species), the ephestris clade (3 species), the mortipax clade (4 species) and H. subrosea (1 species). Two taxa are revived from synonymy: H. catagrammina Druce, stat. rev. and H. luteoradiata Thierry-Mieg, stat. rev. Two taxa are reinstated from subspecies to species level: H. acothysta Schaus, stat. rev. and H. jamaicensis Schaus, stat. rev. Four taxa are provisionally removed from Hagnagora: “Hagnagora” ignipennis, “Hagnagora” mesenata, “Hagnagora” vittata, and “Hagnagora” ceraria. After these changes, the genus Hagnagora now comprises 20 valid species.

I thought I throw this in as well:


No comments:

Post a Comment