Taxonomic comments on the treatment of the Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) in volume 3 of Moths of Europe, Zygaenids, Pyralids 1 and Brachodids (2012)

Abstract

Critical taxonomic comments are provided on the section dealing with the Zygaenidae in volume 3 of Moths of Europe (Leraut 2012). A number of newly described nominal taxa in that work are here synonymised as are nominal subgenera and subspecies that were reinstated as valid. At the subgeneric level these are Hesychia Hübner, [1819] (syn. rev.), Coelestis Burgeff, 1926 (syn. rev.) and Santolinophaga Burgeff, 1926 (syn. rev.), all synonyms of the monophyletic subgenus Mesembrynus Hübner, [1819], and Coelestina Holik, 1953 (syn. rev.), Epizygaena Jordan, 1907 (syn. rev.) and Lictoria Burgeff, 1926 (syn. rev.), all synonyms of the paraphyletic subgenus Agrumenia Hübner, [1819]. At the subspecific level Adscita geryon parisiensis Leraut, 2012 (syn. n.) and A. geryon aeris (Verity, 1946) (syn. rev.) are synonyms of A. geryon geryon (Hübner, [1813]). Zygaena exulans altaretensis Le Charles, 1942 (syn. rev.) and Z. exulans bourgognei Le Charles, 1942 (syn. rev.) are synonyms of Z. exulans exulans (Hohenwarth, 1792). Zygaena trifolii vindilisensis Leraut, 2012 (syn. n.) is a synonym of Z. trifolii subsyracusia Verity, 1925. Zygaena carniolica besseensis Leraut, 2012 (syn. n.) and Z. carniolica rogervillensis Leraut, 2012 (syn. n.) are synonyms of Z. carniolica modesta Burgeff, 1914. Zygaena hilaris nigriventris Leraut, 2012 (syn. n.) is a synonym of Z. hilaris chrysophaea Le Charles, [1934]. Zygaena rhadamanthus boixolsis Aistleitner, 1990 (syn. n.) is a synonym of Z. rhadamanthus rhadamanthus Esper, [1789], Z. rhadamanthus cleui Dujardin, 1956 (syn. rev.) is a synonym of Z. rhadamanthus grisea Oberthür, 1909, and Z. rhadamanthus aragonia Tremewan, 1961 (stat. rev.), Z. rhadamanthus azurea Burgeff, 1914 (stat. rev.) and Z. rhadamanthus aurargentea Mazel, 1979 (stat. rev.) are reinstated as valid subspecies.