Mitochondrial genetics of Ophiderini, with a new species from the Eudocima phalonia species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae).

We evaluate species, species group, and generic concepts for Ophiderini and Phyllodini (Lepidoptera: Calpinae) with a cladistic analysis of COI 5 mitochondrial DNA sequences. Species recognized by current taxonomy formed monophyletic clades with three exceptions: Eudocima phalonia (L.), E. cocalus (Cramer) and E. hypermnestra (Cramer). Eudocima phalonia formed two allopatric clades, an African clade sister to E. lequeuxi Brou Zilli, and another clade sister to E. euryzona (Hampson). Each of these four clades comprises a separate taxon diagnosable by unique combinations of discrete genitalic characters, and the African clade previously lumped under E. phalonia is described herein as E. afrikana sp. n. Eudocima cocalus and E. hypermnestra phenotypes overlap in COI 5 haplotypes. Eleven Eudocima species groups delimited from morphology are independently supported as monophyletic with the molecular analysis. Unique combinations of COI 5 characters diagnosing species and species groups are provided. Eudocima is largely supported as monophyletic, except E. formosa is excluded from the Eudocima clade, and Graphigona regina, Tetrisia florigera, and Ferenta stolliana are embedded within it. Structural morphology of E. formosa also suggests it does not belong in Eudocima. Adult images are shown for most species of Ophiderini, including many DNA sequence vouchers, and their diagnoses and general distributions are provided.