Thaelia Herbin, 2016

Laurent, Ryan A. St & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2019, Reclassification of the Sack-bearer Moths (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae), ZooKeys 815, pp. 1-114 : 19

Thaelia Herbin, 2016 Figs 16, 53, 102, 103

Type species.

Thaelia linamariae Herbin, 2016.

Diagnosis.

The coloration of Thaelia species is variable, but wing patterning is consistent. Externally, Thaelia have an apical postmedial line and elongated, falcate forewings, thereby making them appear very distinct from other Alheitini (all other Alheitini genera have preapical postmedial lines and less falcate, shorter, more triangular wings).

Apomorphies.

See diagnosis and remarks below.

Remarks.

The definition of Thaelia here follows St Laurent et al. (2018a), based on phylogenetic placement of T. linamariae Herbin (type species of Thaelia ), T. subrubiginosa (Dognin), and T. anysia (Schaus) within a robustly supported clade (fig. 1 in St Laurent et al. (2018a)). All Thaelia species, sensu this work, were examined morphologically, and included in our morphological phylogenetic analyses, and all form a well-supported clade in all analyses (see Fig. 1, but also Suppl. materials 5 and 7). There are three distinct male genitalia patterns within this genus: (1) gnathos present, valva apodeme extensions absent, and cornuti present ( T. linamariae , T. beniensis Herbin); (2) gnathos present, valva apodeme extensions present, cornuti absent ( T. anysia ); 3) gnathos absent, valva apodeme extensions present, cornuti absent ( T. subrubiginosa , T. inornata (Druce)). We do not consider it warranted to further break Thaelia into separate genera at this time considering the consistent external morphology among these species. Ongoing molecular phylogenetics which include denser sampling of Thaelia further support a single genus concept for the species that we place in Thaelia .