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Josia megaera (Fabricius 1787) originally described in Bombyx

James S. Miller and Andrew V. Z. Brower
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Containing group: Josia

Introduction

Josia megaera is an old name (holotype missing), which formerly referred to all Josia specimens with a postdiscal orange forewing band. Miller (2009) removed representatives from Mexico, Guatemala and Belize to J. integra. J. megaera as currently circumscribed ranges from Brazil to Venezuela, with historical specimens from Bolivia that likely represent a distinct species, as well as an 1886 series somewhat dubiously labeled "Chiriquí, Panama." Larvae have been reared on Turnera odorata (Turneraceae).

Characteristics

J. megaera exhibits postdiscal transverse orange bands on the forewings like its geographically disjunct sister taxon , from which it exhibits differences of the male genitalia (two clawlike cornuti on the apex of the vesica). Lyces minuta shares a superficially similar wing pattern, perhaps due to mimetic convergence.

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Lyces minuta. © 2009 James S. Miller

Other Names for Josia megaera (Fabricius 1787) originally described in Bombyx

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 Josia megaera
Location French Guiana, Piste Coralie km 57.5
Comments reared from larva on Turnera odorata
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. (Plate 32)
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Identified By James S. Miller
Sex Female
Life Cycle Stage adult
View dorsal
Collection AMNH
Collector J. S. Miller, C. Snyder & L. D. Otero
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 2009
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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 Josia megaera (Fabricius 1787) originally described in Bombyx . 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. 2009. Josia megaera (Fabricius 1787) originally described in Bombyx . Version 04 December 2009 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Josia_megaera/138747/2009.12.04 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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