Date of Completion
8-21-2018
Embargo Period
2-5-2019
Advisors
David L. Wagner, Carlos Garcia-Robledo, Scott E. Miller
Field of Study
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Degree
Master of Science
Open Access
Campus Access
Abstract
The Lactura Walker, 1854 fauna north of Mexico are revised. Six species are documented, one new species Lactura nalli sp. nov. and two synonymies are established: Lactura psammitis (Zeller, 1872) rev. stat. and L. rhodocentra (Meyrick, 1913) n. syn. We illustrate adult and larval stages, male and female genitalia, present a preliminary phylogeny based on nuclear and mitochondrial data, provide distribution records for verified specimens, and briefly characterize the biology and life history for each species. Phylogenetic analyses, larval phenotypes, and life history information reveal that much of the historic taxonomic confusion rampant across this group in North America traces to the extreme phenotypic variation in just one species, L. subfervens (Walker, 1854).
Recommended Citation
Matson, Tanner, "Revision of American Lactura North of Mexico, with new Texas Species Lactura nalli sp. nov., and Preliminary Phylogeny for Nearctic Taxa (Lepidoptera, Zygaenoidea, Lacturidae)" (2018). Master's Theses. 1269.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/1269
Major Advisor
David L. Wagner