A review of the genus Nikara Moore and its transfer to the Stiriinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The compact noctuid genus Nikara Moore, 1882 is reviewed and transferred from Noctuinae, Xylenini to Stiriinae based on multi-locus molecular and morphological data. Chrysonicara aureus Bang-Haas, 1927, syn. nov. is synonymized with Nikara plusiodes de Joannis, 1914, and therefore the monotypic genus Chrysonicara Draudt, 1937, syn. nov. of which aureus is the type species is synonymized with Nikara Moore, 1882. A new combination: Nikara cupreomicans (Draudt, 1950), comb. nov. is established by transferring Lasiplexia cupreomicans Draudt, 1950 to Nikara. Lectotypes for Lasiplexia cupreomicans Draudt, 1950 and Chrysoptera (Plusia) aureus Bang-Haas, 1927 are designated. Adults together with male and female genitalia are illustrated.