The African endemic species “ Nychiodes” tyttha Prout, 1915 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) belongs to the genus Aphilopota Warren, 1899

Abstract

An extensive examination of the external and internal morphological characters of the genus Nychiodes shows that “Nychiodes” tyttha Prout, 1915 is incorrectly placed in this genus. The systematic position of this species was investigated by using a multigene analysis, including one mitochondrial and up to nine protein-coding nuclear gene regions, and morphological characters. These results support a re-classification of this species as Aphilopota tyttha, comb. nov. A re-description supported by illustrations of morphological characters for A. tyttha is provided.

Keywords

• Boarmiini
• new combination
• phylogeny
• systematics