Revision of the genus Scopelodes Westwood, 1841 (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae) with description of 16 new species

Abstract

The genus Scopelodes Westwood, 1841 distributed from India and Japan to New Guinea is revised. At present it includes a total of 31 species (34 taxa including subspecies), of which 16 are described as new to science: S. witti, S. pichugini, S. palawana, S. busa, S. jakli, S. uljanae, S. nusatenggarica, S. wetara, S. philippina, S. buraena, S. geminus, S. rudloffi, S. tanimbara, S. brechlini, S. lourensi, and S. notata. Lectotypes are designated for 9 taxa: Bethura minax, Scopelodes lutea, S. pallivittata, S. testacea, S. aurogrisea, S. exigua, S. magnifica, S. dinawa, S. sericea. New synonymy is established for the taxa: Scopelodes testacea = Scopelodes exigua niassica, syn. n. The taxa S. aurogrisea Moore and S. bicolor Wu & Fang are regarded as subspecies within S. venosa Walker. A new combination is proposed here: S. brunneipennis, comb. n. (the species is transferred from the genus Comana Walker).