Mnestheus silvaticus Hayward, 1940

Zhang, Jing, Cong, Qian, Shen, Jinhui & Grishin, Nick V., 2022, Taxonomic changes suggested by the genomic analysis of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera), Insecta Mundi 2022 (921), pp. 1-135 : 87-88

Mnestheus silvaticus Hayward, 1940 , reinstated combination

Currently in Ludens Evans, 1955 (type species Cobalus ludens Mabille, 1891 ) probably due to wing pattern similarities, Mnestheus silvaticus Hayward, 1940 (type locality Argentina) is not monophyletic with it and instead is sister to Mnestheus Godman, 1901 (type species Phlebodes ittona Butler, 1870 ) ( Fig. 15 ). To restore monophyly, we put it back in its original genus to form Mnestheus silvaticus Hayward, 1940 , reinstated combination.

Morphological characters, in particular undivided uncus and valva shape without a deep cleft between ampulla and harpe, support this placement.

Figures

Figure 15. Genomic tree of Moncina, part 3. See Fig. 1 legend for notations.