Grishin, Zhang & Cong & Shen & Grishin, 2022

Zhang, Jing, Cong, Qian, Shen, Jinhui & Grishin, Nick V., 2022, Taxonomic changes suggested by the genomic analysis of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera), Insecta Mundi 2022 (921), pp. 1-135 : 94-95

Brasta Grishin , new subgenus

http://zoobank.org/ CD758877-73A0-4CF6-A0B9-4DD661B0E90B

Type species. Lychnuchus brasta Evans, 1955 .

Definition. As argued above, we placed Lychnuchus brasta Evans, 1955 in Vertica Evans, 1955 (type species Hesperia verticalis Plötz, 1882 ) ( Fig. 17 ). However, it is rather distant from other congeners, for example its COI barcode differs from the type species of the genus by 10.8% (71 bp). Combined with phenotypic distinction, these differences argue for placing L. brasta in a subgenus separate from other Vertica . This new subgenus keys to K. 12.3 in Evans (1955). Distinguished from its relatives by the following combination of characters: antennae long, longer than half of costa; palpi bulky, quadrantic with short and stout third segment; male with long and narrow brands above and below both veins 1A+2A and CuA 2; uncus wider and aedeagus broader than in Vertica , harpe of valva without hooks or processes. In DNA, a combination of the following base pairs is diagnostic: aly10226.56.1:G163A, aly 1186.4.1:A1079G, aly1313.27.7:C1522A, aly851.5.4:A154A (not G), aly1838.46.1:A323A (not G), and aly 1838.8.2:T446T (not A).

Etymology. The name is a feminine noun in the nominative singular, tautonymous with the type species name.

Species included. Only the type species.

Parent taxon. Genus Vertica Evans, 1955 .

Figures

Figure 17. Genomic tree of Carystina, Pericharini, Megathymini and relatives. Clades corresponding to new subtribes described in this work are highlighted in green. See Fig. 1 legend for other notations.