Proeulia Clarke, 1962

Brown, John W., 2024, New genera and species of tortricid moths from Chile and Argentina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Zootaxa 5551 (1), pp. 51-90 : 62

Proeulia Clarke, 1962

Proeulia Clarke 1962: 293 , 1965: 71, 1980: 182; Obraztsov 1964: 183; Gonzáles 1981a: 15, 1981b: 35; Campos et al. 1981: 246; Alvarez and Gonzáles 1982: 75; Razowski 1988: 408, 1995: 271, 1999a: 74; Brown 1989: 319; Brown and Passoa 1998: 8; Cubillos Vallejos 2011: 1; Cepeda and González 2015: 5; Cepeda and Curkovic 2020: 493; Flores et al. 2021: 1.

Type species: Eulia robinsoni Aurivillius, 1922 , by original designation.

Remarks and diagnosis. Proeulia has been characterized in numerous studies (e.g., Clarke 1962, Razowski 1995, Razowski and Pelz 2010), so there is no need to repeat the morphological details of the genus here. It currently includes 42 described species (including those described herein) plus numerous undescribed species in collections worldwide (e.g., USNM, NHMD). Although the forewing pattern of most species is fairly characteristic of the genus, several Proeulia species deviate significantly from this general pattern, but are included convincingly in the genus based on morphological features of the male and/or female genitalia. Illustrations of the male and female of most species can be found in Razowski and Pelz (2010).

Distribution and Biology. Proeulia appears to be restricted to Chile and Argentina; there is a single species from Bolivia that likely is not congeneric. The larvae of several species (e.g., P. auraria (Clarke) , P. chrysopteris (Butler) , P. triquetra Obraztsov have shifted from native hosts to crop plants and have become important agricultural pests of grapes, pears, oranges, kiwis, and many stone fruits (e.g., Gonzáles 1981a, 1981b, 1986, 1989; Alvarez & Gonzáles 1982; Campos et al. 1981; González & Curkovic 1994; Brown & Passoa 1998; Cubillos Vallejos 2011; Cepeda & Cubillos 2011; Cepeda & González 2015; Cepeda & Curkovic 2020; Flores et al. 2021).