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Start Over Creator Zilli, Alberto

1. African-Arabian and Asian-Pacific "Mocis frugalis": Two distinct species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Creator:
Zilli, Alberto
Type:
article, model:article, and TEXT
Subject:
Noctuidae, Mocis frugalis, Mocis proveral, new species, and pest Lepidoptera
Language:
English
Description:
It is shown that under the name Mocis frugalis (F., 1775), considered to represent a widespread pest of graminaceous crops in the Eastern hemisphere and the Pacific, two species have been hitherto confused. Populations from Africa and Arabian Peninsula are described as Mocis proverai sp. n. The main characters which distinguish the African-Arabian M. proverai from M. frugalis of Asia and the Pacific are found in the genitalia, especially the configuration of the male vesica and female bursa copulatrix.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ and policy:public

2. Larval morphology of Heterogynis (Lepidoptera: Heterogynidae)

Creator:
Vegliante , Francesca and Zilli, Alberto
Type:
article, model:article, and TEXT
Subject:
Zygaenoidea, Heterogynidae, larval morphology, chaetotaxy, and phylogenetics
Language:
English
Description:
The external morphology and chaetotaxy of the larvae of Heterogynidae (Lepidoptera) are described in order to provide information of potential phylogenetic value for the reconstruction of the systematic relationships within the Zygaenoidea. The most outstanding characteristics of heterogynid larvae are their modified habitus during diapause, the presence of an epipharyngeal lamella, the shape of the prothoracic shield, the presence in the first instar of an organ of unknown function on the middorsum of the mesothorax ("Chapman's organ"), the absence of V2, V3 and Va on the head, the absence of V1 on the prothorax and the presence of two primary setae on the inner side of the proleg, the last trait representing an autapomorphy of the family. A number of possible synapomorphies with the Zygaenidae (e.g. presence of cuticular cavities) suggest a close relationship between these two families, but other larval and adult traits are shared only with the "Phaudinae" and limacodid-group families of the Zygaenoidea (viz. absence of V1 on the prothorax with the "Phaudinae", reduced proboscis and absence of ocelli with them all). Nevertheless, a lack of knowledge of the preimaginal instars of species from some zygaenoid families, and of the homology and polarity of given characters of groups within and outside the Zygaenoidea, hamper a thorough comparison of larvae.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ and policy:public