Ghost-moths of the world: a global inventory and bibliography of the Exoporia (Mnesarchaeoidea and Hepialoidea) (Lepidoptera)

Abstract

An inventory of the 616 valid species of Exoporia occurring in the world is presented, with the species placed in 68 genera. A full synonymy of each genus and species is given, including infrasubspecific names; 233 available names are in synonymy and 70 infrasubspecific names are noted. The listing of each species includes author, date of original description, genus of original combination and type locality. Three new generic and 13 new specific synonyms are established; 106 species are transferred as new combinations; five species are resurrected from synonymy. Blanchardinella nom. n. is proposed for the preoccupied Blanchardina Viette, 1950, and Dalaca parafuscus nom. n. is proposed for the preoccupied Hepialus fuscus Mabille, 1885. A review of key literature on Exoporia is provided together with a bibliography of more than 500 references covering all taxonomic descriptions since 1900, major works before 1900, key regional works for identification, and selected references on systematics, morphology, immature stages, biology and behaviour, pheromones, pest status, parasites, pathogens and control, and fossil history.

Keywords:

• Anomosetidae Behaviour Bibliography Biology Control Exoporia Fossil History Ghost-MOTHS Hepialidae Identification Immature Stages Inventory Mnesarchaeidae Morphology Neotheoridae Palaeosetidae Parasites Pathogens Pest Status Pheromones Prototheoridae Swift-MOTHS Systematics