/* GENtt I 29 FE A revision of the Halysidota tessellaris species-group \^ UBR / (Halysidota sensu stricto) (Lepidoptera : Arctiidae) A. Watson ^ Department of Entomology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Contents Synopsis 1 Introduction 1 Status of Halysidota Hiibner 1 Material, acknowledgements and abbreviations 2 Illustrations 3 Phylogeny 3 Defence 4 Unpalatability 4 Warning coloration 5 Reflex immobilization 5 Sound production 6 Systematic treatment 6 Characters used in the descriptions and key 6 Genus Halysidota Hiibner 8 Key to species (males) 11 Systematic checklist of Halysidota Hiibner sensu stricto 62 References 62 Index 64 Synopsis The 28 species considered to be monophyletic and congeneric with Halysidota tessellaris Smith (the type-species of Halysidota Hiibner, a genus of the New World tribe Phaegopterini) are characterized, keyed and discussed. Seven new species and one new subspecies are described, fourteen names are removed from synonymy, nine subspecific names are elevated to species rank, one subspecific name is reinstated as a valid specific name, five names are newly placed in synonymy and one species is transferred from Opharus Walker to Halysidota. The phylogeny and defence strategies of Halysidota sensu stricto (the tessellaris-group) are discussed. Introduction The reasons for undertaking the present study were twofold. First, in connection with a projected volume of the Moths of North America north of Mexico (Dominick et al., Eds), it was necessary to identify those species of Halysidota Hiibner that are similar in appearance to H. tessellaris. Second, there was a need to provide valid names for species of moths used by the author in food-acceptance trials with insectivorous birds in northern Venezuela. Two species of Halysidota sensu stricto (tessellaris and harrisii) are minor pests of forest and shade trees in North America. The abundance of schausi and fuliginosa in parts of Central America suggests that these too are potential pest species. Status of Halysidota Hiibner About 200 species are currently placed in the genus Halysidota (sensu Seitz, 1922, and subsequent authors) but I consider only 28 of these to be congeneric with tessellaris, the type-Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Ent.) 40 (1): 1-65 Issued 28 February 1980
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