Boalda poguei: A new species of Owlet Moth from Paraguay,

Owlet Moths, Noctuidae, are an extremely large and diverse group of Moths, found on every continent and significant landmass except Antarctica. The adults are mostly small and dull, though some are brightly coloured, with many species being important pollinators. The larvae can be herbivores or carnivores, with many species considered to be significant agricultural pests.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 9 June 2017, Paul Goldstein of the Systematic Entomology Laboratory at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History describes a new species of Owlet Moth from Paraguay, as part of a review of Moths of the genus Boalda.

The new species is named Boalda poguei, in honour of Michael Pogue, one of the collectors of the specimens from which the species is described. The species is described from three male specimens, all collected in the Parque Nacional Teniente Enciso in Boquerón Department, Paraguay. These are small, with a forewing length of 8 mm, and russet in colour with pink and white markings.

Boalda poguei, male specimen in dorsal view. Goldstein (2017).

See also...

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

New species of Owlet Moth from Sichuan Province, China.

Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) are the largest group within the Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). They are typically small, drab, brown Moths, though some species have brightly coloured hind-wings, which are covered by the fore-wings when resting. Almost all Owlet Moths are nocturnal, and few show any visible differences between the sexes. The larvae of Owlet Moths are soil-dwelling herbivores; they are referred to as 'Cutworms', and are considered a serious agricultural pests in many parts of the world.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 15 November 2012, Balázs Benedek of Törökbálint in Hungary and Aidas Saldaitis and Jolanta Rimsaite of the Nature Research Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania, describe a new species of Owlet Moth from Sichuan Province, China, as part of a review of Moths of the genus Harutaeographa.

The new Moth is named Harutaeographa shui, after the ancient Shu Kingdom, now Chengdu, capitol of Sichuan Province. Harutaeographa shui is a 17-20 mm brown Moth with coppery-brown patterns and dark scales on its forewings and yellowish wings. The species is described from six specimens collected from the Siping and Kangding areas of Sichuan Province, on the fringe of the Tibetan Plateau. The Moths were collected in small river valleys in mountain virgin mixed forest dominated by

various broad-leaved trees, rhododendrons and bamboos, at altitudes of 1500-1600 m. They were captured using light traps.

Two male specimens of Harutaeographa shui. Benedek et al. (2012).

The habitat where Harutaeographa shui was found living. Benedek et al. (2012).

See also Five new species of Snout Moth from China, New Tiger Moths discovered in east Asia, New species of Leaf-Mining Moth from northern Chile and New species of moth from Yunnan Province.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.