The Tasmanian geometrid moths associated with the genus Amelora auctorum (Lepidoptera : Geometridae : Ennomina)

Abstract

The Tasmanian species associated by previous authors with the geometrid moth genus Amelora Guest are reviewed. Nine, including two new species, are assigned to Amelora sensu stricto on the basis of new morphological evidence: A. sparsularia (Guenee) with synonyms A. cyclocentra Turner, syn. nov., and A. oxytona Turner, syn. nov., A. arotraea Meyrick, A. adusta Turner, A. zophopasta Turner, A. nebulosa, sp. nov., A. oritropha Turner, A. leucaniata (Guenée), A. acontistica (Turner), comb. nov., and A. acromegala, sp. nov. Xantholepidote Gumppenberg, syn. nov., and Stinoptila Turner, syn. nov., are considered new generic synonyms of Amelora. All other Tasmanian species associated with Amelora in original combination are reassigned to new genera: Dolabrossa, gen. nov., includes the type species D. suffusa (Turner), comb. nov., and D. amblopa (Guest), comb. nov.; Furcatrox, gen, nov., is erected for a complex of superficially similar species including F. australis (Rosenstock), comb. nov., as type species, F. serrula, sp. nov., F. pervaga, sp. nov., F. furneauxi, sp. nov., F. paracus, sp. nov., F. procera, sp. nov., and F. crenulata (Turner), comb. nov.; Lackrana, gen. nov., includes the type species L. carbo, sp. nov., and L. durafrons, sp. nov.; Cassythaphaga, gen. nov., is a Cassytha (Lauraceae)-feeding genus with C. macarta (Turner), comb. nov., as type species and Androchela, gen. nov., includes A. newmannaria (Guenée), comb. nov., newly confirmed from Australia after 130 years, the polyphagous genotype A. milvaria (Guenée), comb. nov., and a new species, A. smithi, sp. nov., from the Tasmanian highlands. Biological and ecological notes are given where known.