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Ephialtias Hübner 1816

James S. Miller and Andrew V. Z. Brower
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taxon links [up-->]Ephialtias abrupta [up-->]Ephialtias pseudena [up-->]Ephialtias draconis [up-->]Ephialtias velutinum [up-->]Ephialtias consueta [up-->]Ephialtias dorsispilota [up-->]Ephialtias tenuifascia [up-->]Ephialtias monilis [up-->]Ephialtias bryce [up-->]Ephialtias choba [down<--]Josiini Interpreting the tree
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Containing group: Josiini

Introduction

A genus of medium-sized neotropical day-flying moths, most with yellow or orange transverse bands on the forewings. Members of Ephiltias are involved in presumed Müllerian mimicry with a variety of other dioptines, arctiids, and other lepidopteran taxa. Recorded larval host plants are Turnera (Turneraceae) and Lindackeria (Achariaceae).

Characteristics

Most species of Ephialtias exhibit a row of yellow or whitish spots on the dorsum of the abdomen, but not all do. Males may be distinguished from similar Getta spp. by the absence of androconial brands on the wings. The most reliable means to verify membership in the genus is by genitalic characters, including elaborate androconial structures on the male valvae (Miller 2009). While hindwing patterns of the abrupta group are variable (the clade is united by genitalic synapomorphies), all three members of the bryce group possess an orange-red radial hindwing band.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

The structure within the genus is based on the phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters by Miller (2009).

Other Names for Ephialtias Hübner 1816

References

Miller, JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321, 1-971 + 48 plates.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Ephialtias choba
Location Brazil: Pará, Santarém
Reference Miller JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321, 1-971 + 48 plates.
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Identified By James S. Miller
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage adult
View dorsal
Collection CMNH
Collector S. M. Klages
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2009
Scientific Name Ephialtias draconis
Location Panama: Canal Zone, Pipeline Road
Comments larva reared on Turnera panamensis
Reference Miller JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321, 1-971 + 48 plates.
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Identified By James S. Miller
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage adult
View dorsal
Collection USNM
Collector A. Aiello
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2009
About This Page



Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to James S. Miller at and Andrew V. Z. Brower at

Page: Tree of Life Ephialtias Hübner 1816. Authored by James S. Miller and Andrew V. Z. Brower. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Miller, James S. and Andrew V. Z. Brower. 2010. Ephialtias Hübner 1816. Version 21 July 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Ephialtias/138581/2010.07.21 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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