Carcharodina

Zhang, Jing, Brockmann, Ernst, Cong, Qian, Shen, Jinhui & Grishin, Nick V., 2020, A genomic perspective on the taxonomy of the subtribe Carcharodina (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Carcharodini), Zootaxa 4748 (1), pp. 182-194 : 191-192

Identification key to genera of Carcharodina .

The key provides phenotypic characters for all Carcharodina genera to aid their identification.

1. Hindwing outer margin evenly rounded without crenulation. Fringes prominently checkered. Wings white-spotted (checkered appearance, i.e. dark-brown background with many opaque pale spots): central pale spot in discal cell on dorsal forewing positioned before the origin of vein CuA 1 and the pale spot in space CuA 1 -CuA 2 positioned in the middle between the discal cell spot and the spot in cell M 3 -CuA 1, or closer to the latter........................................................ 2

- Hindwing more or less crenulate or fringes uncheckered and hindwing slightly produced at vein 1A+2A. Wings marbled and with hyaline spots, if white-spotted, then central pale spot in discal cell on dorsal forewing usually centered around the origin of vein CuA 1, and if not, then it overlaps with the CuA 1 -CuA 2 cell spot, which is closer to the discal cell spot than to the spot in M 3 -CuA 1 cell......................................................................................... 4

2. Out of three spots in forewing discal cell, rectangular middle spot (the largest) closer to streak-like spot at distal end of cell than to well-developed and rounded basal spot. Male with costal fold. Uncus deeply incised................... Agyllia gen. n.

- Out of three spots in forewing discal cell, rectangular middle spot (the largest) not closer to streak-like spot at distal end of cell than to basal spot, or basal spot absent. Male with or without costal fold. Uncus not deeply incised..................... 3

3. Ventral hindwing with straight median white band not separated into sports, i.e., white spot in cell RS-M 1 joins central spot (discal cell) to the outer (and not inner) spot in cell Sc+R 1 -RS. Hindwing submarginal pale spots in cells M 1 -M 2 & M 2 -M 3 offset basad from the rest of the submarginal spots in species with costal fold. Species without costal fold either lack basal white spots in discal cell on dorsal forewing (some white scales along cubital vein may be present forming a narrow streak), or on dorsal forewing in CuA 2 -1A+2A cell the outer lower median spot absent and inner lower median spot forming a bar with inner upper median spot, larger than the outer upper median spot. Gnathos dorsally joined to tegumen, if gnathos free, then coecum of aedeagus shortened or absent.................................................................. Ernsta gen. n.

- Ventral hindwing median white band frequently broken into spots or if not, then usually directed basad at costa. Hindwing submarginal pale spots in cells M 1 -M 2 & M 2 -M 3 in line with other submarginal spots or absent. In species with straight entire median white ventral hindwing band (similar to Ernsta gen. n.), basal white spots in discal cell on dorsal forewing present and in CuA 2 -1A+2A cell inner upper median spot absent, outer upper median spot well developed, nearly the same size as inner lower median spot. Male without costal fold. Gnathos not joined to tegumen, aedeagus typically with coecum....... Spialia

4. Fringes not checkered or indistinctly checkered. Hindwing outer margin wavy and slightly produced at vein 1A+2A. Mid-tibiae without a row of spines. Wings marbled and usually with hyaline spots. Caterpillar almost white, more elongated, foodplants Malvaceae ..................................................................................... Gomalia

- Fringes prominently checkered. Hindwing more or less crenulate. Caterpillar darker and stouter....................... 5

5. Mid-tibiae with a row of spines. Costa of valva with broad serrated process directed ventrad. Wings white-spotted. Single species currently included in this genus exhibits a nearly perfect, but apparently convergent, similarity in wing pattern with Muschampia tessellum (Hübner, [1800-1803]), differing by the subapical forewing white bar that almost always consists of 4 to 5 (instead of 3) spots............................................................................. Favria

- Mid-tibiae smooth, without a row of spines. Costa of valva without such process. Wings white-spotted or marbled and with hyaline spots......................................................................................... 6

6. Aedeagus thin. Uncus not longer than tegumen. Wings white-spotted, if marbled, then valva longer than wide and forewing pale bar defining the end of discal cell and central hyaline spots well-developed. Caterpillar foodplants (where known) Lamiaceae .......................................................................................... Muschampia

- Aedeagus very broad, expanded distally. Uncus longer than tegumen. Valva nearly as long as wide. Wings marbled and with hyaline spots, forewing pale bar defining the end of discal cell absent or inconspicuous and central hyaline spots smaller. Caterpillar foodplants Malvaceae and Euphorbiaceae .................................................. Carcharodus