Description of three new species of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) using species delimitation in an integrative taxonomy approach for a cryptic species complex

Abstract

The genus Eois Hübner (Geometridae: Larentiinae) comprises 254 valid species, 217 of which were described from the Neotropics and 31 of those having their type locality in Brazil. Since this species rich genus has never been revised, and may potentially include many cryptic undescribed species, Eois embodies a problematic taxonomic scenario. The actual diversity of Eois is greatly underestimated and the Brazilian fauna is poorly known, both because of inadequate sampling and because of the potential existence of cryptic species "hidden" within some nominal taxa. In this study we investigated the diversity within a cryptic species complexes associated to the E. pallidicosta and E. odatis clades. We describe three new species Eois oya Moraes & Montebello sp. nov., Eois ewa Moraes & Stanton sp. nov., and Eois oxum Moraes & Freitas sp. nov., in an integrative taxonomy approach, using morphology, host plant use and species delimitation tools.

Two new species of the hyperdiverse geometrid moth genus Eois (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) from Ecuador, with descriptions of early stages

“…However, the larentiine genus Eois Hübner is strictly tropical, and 83% of the described species are restricted to the Neotropics ( Brehm et al 2005 ; Strutzenberger et al 2010 , 2011 , 2017 ; Brehm et al 2011 ; Õunap et al 2016 ). The genus is comprised of 267 formally described species: 220 in the Neotropics ( Moraes et al 2021a , b ), 30 in Southeast Asia, and 17 in Africa ( Herbulot 2000 ; De Prins and De Prins 2023 ). Remarkably, it is estimated that an additional 1,000 or more Neotropical species of Eois remain to be described ( Brehm et al 2011 ; Strutzenberger et al 2017 ; Moraes et al 2021a , b ).…”

“…The genus is comprised of 267 formally described species: 220 in the Neotropics ( Moraes et al 2021a , b ), 30 in Southeast Asia, and 17 in Africa ( Herbulot 2000 ; De Prins and De Prins 2023 ). Remarkably, it is estimated that an additional 1,000 or more Neotropical species of Eois remain to be described ( Brehm et al 2011 ; Strutzenberger et al 2017 ; Moraes et al 2021a , b ). If these estimates are correct, the genus is among the most species-rich in all of Lepidoptera .…”

“…Species of Eois are generally small, with wingspans of 12–20 mm. Wing shape and pattern are diverse, featuring ground colors of yellows, greens, or browns, some with finely reticulated networks of lines, some with spots or bands, and others nearly uniform in color ( Moraes et al 2021a ). Larvae are mostly green, with brown, red, or black spots or bands; others are completely dark ( Brehm et al 2011 : fig.…”

Alien species revises systematic status: integrative species delimitation of two similar taxa of Symbrenthia Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

“…Consequently, whether the exotic taxon represents interspecific or intraspecific entity to the local taxon may lead to different types of ecological and evolutionary impacts to local community. Species delimitation employing an integrative taxonomy approach has becoming popular to help with taxonomic treatments/decisions among closely related taxa and to detect cryptic species ( Moraes et al, 2021 ). This approach can also help with assessing whether an invading taxon is conspecific or not to the local taxon.…”

Disclisioprocta edmondsii (Butler, 1882) comb. nov. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae)

“…Natural environments of South America harbour a high diversity of geometrid moths ( Lepidoptera , Geometridae ), whose taxonomy remains insufficiently studied ( Hausmann and Parra 2009 , Brehm et al 2016 , Murillo-Ramos et al 2021 ). Besides the frequent discovery of new species ( Brehm 2018 , Ramos-González et al 2019 , Moraes et al 2021 , Vargas 2021 ), generic assignments of most of the already described species deserve assessment, as suggested by new combinations arising in taxonomic revisions ( Parra 2018 ) and molecular phylogenetic analyses ( Brehm et al 2019 ).…”