Comparative morphology and phylogenetic study of the neotropical genus Theages (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Erebidae, Arctiinae)

• Grant number: 17/23906-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Duarte da Silva
• Grantee: Elias da Costa Araujo Junior
• Supervisor: Robert Kanner Robbins
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/16185-8 - Taxonomy and cladistic analysis of Theages Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Ctenuchina),with morphological study of androconial organs, BP.MS

Abstract

Theages Walker, 1855 is a Neotropical genus comprising eight species, of which four arerecorded in Brazil. The group is characterized by the presence of androconial organs in the dorsalabdominal surface of males. Despite the taxonomic relevance of the structures, they are yet to bethoroughly and systematically examined for subfamily Arctiinae. Similar to several genera ofArctiinae, Theages presents a confusing taxonomic history, with disagreements regarding itscomposition. Additionally, it constitutes a poorly defined genus, with plenty of gaps in itsdelimitation. With this project we propose an internship in the entomological collection of theNational Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA (USNM).USNM's collection amasses a significant quantity of material for genus Theages, with broadgeographical representativeness and deposit of type materials for the genus' species. During theinternship we plan to confirm the identity of all species based on comparative morphology, aswell as evaluate the monophyly of the genus and its internal relations using the obtainedmorphological data. As further impacts for these findings, we also aim to: i) describe probablenew species; ii) revise and establish possible new synonyms and iii) propose possible newcombinations for the genus. Finally, a morphological study of androconial organs will bedeveloped with the assistance of Dr. Robert K. Robbins. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ARAUJO, ELIAS C.; PINHEIRO, LIVIA R.; DUARTE, MARCELO. Comparative morphology and taxonomy of the tiger moth genus Epanycles Butler (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Ctenuchina), with notes on related genera. Zootaxa, v. 4613, n. 1, p. 187-199, JUN 4 2019. (17/23906-6, 16/16185-8, 09/11159-5, 13/20659-7, 12/02444-0)

ARAUJO, ELIAS C.; PINHEIRO, LIVIA R.; DUARTE, MARCELO. Comparative morphology and redescription of five species of Theages Walker (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Ctenuchina), with new distribution records and a new combination for the genus. ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER, v. 279, p. 172-184, MAR 2019. (17/23906-6, 16/16185-8, 09/11159-5, 13/20659-7, 12/02444-0)

ELIAS DA COSTA ARAUJO; LUCAS PEREIRA MARTINS; MARCELO DUARTE; GISELE GARCIA AZEVEDO. Distribuição temporal de borboletas frugívoras (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) no extremo leste da região amazônica. Acta Amazonica, v. 50, n. 1, p. 12-23, 2019-11-25. (17/23906-6, 16/16185-8)