Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5810 No. 3: 18 May 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-05-18
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5810.3.3
Page range: 463-489
Abstract views: 74
PDF downloaded: 8

A new species of the forester moth genus Mimeusemia Butler, 1875 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Agaristinae) from India with DNA barcode data

Zoological Survey of India; Western Regional Centre; Vidya Nagar; Sector-29; P.C.N.T (PO); Rawet Road; Akurdi; Pune; Maharashtra 411044; India
PhD Scholar; Shivaji University; Vidyanagar; Kolhapur—416 004; Maharashtra; India
Zoological Survey of India; Western Regional Centre; Vidya Nagar; Sector-29; P.C.N.T (PO); Rawet Road; Akurdi; Pune; Maharashtra 411044; India
Zoological Survey of India; Western Regional Centre; Vidya Nagar; Sector-29; P.C.N.T (PO); Rawet Road; Akurdi; Pune; Maharashtra 411044; India
Department of Science; Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road; London; SW7 5BD; United Kingdom
Lepidoptera Karnataka Western Ghats genital morphology morphometry distribution map integrative taxonomy

Abstract

A new species of the genus Mimeusemia Butler, 1875 is described from India, based on integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphological and genital evidence supported by mt DNA barcode data. Superficially, the new species is reminiscent of Mimeusemia davidsoni Swinhoe, 1899 and Mimeusemia basalis (Walker, 1854) but can be readily distinguished from both by distinct phenotypical and genitalia characters, as well as phylogenetic position. Comprehensive morphological descriptions are provided, accompanied by images of adult specimens and genitalia. An updated checklist of species currently attributed to Mimeusemia is provided and their type localities are illustrated in a dot map.

References

  1. Anonymous (2025) Mimeusemia basalis, Mimeusemia peshwa, Mimeusemia postica & Mimeusemia ceylonica. In: Sondhi, S., Sondhi, Y., Singh, R.P., Roy, P. & Kunte, K. (Eds.), Moths of India. Version 3.91. Indian Foundation for Butterflies Trust, Bengaluru. Available from: https://www.mothsofindia.org (accessed 23 March 2025)
  2. Anonymous (2026) Mimeusemia Butler, 1875. Available from: https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/1763713 (accessed 14 January 2026)
  3. Beccaloni, G., Scoble, M., Kitching, I., Simonsen, T., Robinson, G., Pitkin, B., Hine, A. & Lyal, C. (2003) The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). Natural History Museum, London. Available from: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/lepindex (accessed 23 March 2025)
  4. Buchsbaum, U. (2010) Mimeusemia morinakai Kishida, 1995 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Agaristinae) on Lombok Island (Indonesia) with a Checklist of the Agaristinae of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Lombok. Esperiana Buchreihe zur Entomologie, 15, 387–392.
  5. Butler, A.G. (1875a) Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Lepidoptera in the Collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 4, 15 (90), 396–400. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937508681108
  6. Butler, A.G. (1875b) Notes on certain Genera of Agaristidae, with Descriptions of new Species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 4, 15 (86), 135–144, pl. 13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937508681041
  7. Catalogue of Life (2025) Catalogue of Life. Species 2000 & ITIS, Leiden. Available from: https://www.catalogueoflife.org (accessed 14 March 2025)
  8. De Prins, J. & De Prins, W. (2011–2025) Afromoths, an online database of Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera). Available from: http://www.afromoths.net (accessed 30 December 2025)
  9. De Vos, R. (2025) The Forester moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Agaristinae) of Papua Indonesia. Papua Insects Foundation, Amsterdam. Available from: https://www.papuainsects.nl/insect%20orders/Lepidoptera/Noctuidae/Agaristinae/Mimeusemia/Mimeusemia%20simplex.htm (accessed 11 April 2025)
  10. Druce, H. (1895) Descriptions of some new Species of Heterocera from the Eastern Islands and Tropical America. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 6, 15 (85), 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939508680225
  11. Hadley, A. (2010) Combine ZP software, new version. Alan Hadley, Derby. Available from: http://www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/CZP/News.htm (accessed 11 April 2025)
  12. Hampson, G.F. (1893) Illustrations of typical specimens of Lepidoptera Heterocera in the collection of the British Museum. Part IX. The Macrolepidoptera Heterocera of Ceylon. The Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London, iv + 182 pp., pls. 157–176. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.53701
  13. Hampson, G.F. (1894) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Moths. Vol. 2. Taylor & Francis, London, xxii + 609 pp.
  14. Hampson, G.F. (1900) n.k. In: Andrews, C.W. (Ed.), A Monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean): Physical Features and Geology with descriptions of the Fauna and Flora by numerous contributors. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London, pp. 63–80, pls. 9. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.52551
  15. Hampson, G.F. (1901) Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum. Vol. III. Catalogue of the Arctiadae (Arctianae) and Agaristidae in the collection of the British museum. The Trustees of the British Museum, London, xix + 690 pp., pls. 36–54. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.9243
  16. Hampson, G.F. (1911) Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Syntomidae, Arctiadae, Agaristidae, and Noctuidae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8, 8 (46), 393–445. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222931108693053
  17. Hampson, G.F. (1920) Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalænæ in the British museum. Supplement. Vol. 2. Catalogue of the Lithosiadae (Arctianae) and Phalaenoididae in the collection of the British Museum. The Trustees of the British Museum, London, xxiii + 619 pp., pls. 42–71.
  18. Hebert, P.D.N., Cywinska, A., Ball, S.L. & de Waard, J.R. (2003) Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 270 (1512), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2218
  19. Hebert, P.D.N., de Waard, J.R., Zakharov, E.V., Prosser, S.W.J., Sones, J.E., McKeown, J.T.A., Mantle, B. & La Salle, J. (2013) A DNA ‘Barcode Blitz’: Rapid Digitization and Sequencing of a Natural History Collection. PLoS ONE, 8 (7), e68535. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0068535
  20. Hendry, P. (2009) At the Light Trap: Records of daytime flying moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Agaristinae) and the genus Donuca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Catocalinae). Metamorphosis Australia, 55, 24–27. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.419786
  21. Herbison-Evans, D. & Crossley, S. (2025) Mimeusemia centralis (Rothschild, 1896). Macleay Museum, Sydney. Available from: https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/agar/centralis.html (accessed 14 March 2025)
  22. Herrich-Schäffer, G.A.W. (1850–1858) Sammlung neuer oder wenig bekannter aussereuropäischer Schmetterlinge. G.J. Manz, Regensburg, 84 pp., 120 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.49772
  23. Holloway, J.D. (1976) Moths of Borneo with special reference to Mt. Kinabalu. Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur, 264 pp.
  24. Holloway, J.D. (1989) The Moths of Borneo. Part 12. Family Noctuidae: Noctuinae, Heliothinae, Hadeninae, Acronictinae, Amphipyrinae, Agaristinae. Malayan Nature Journal, 43, 57–226.
  25. Holloway, J.D. (2025) Mimeusemia Butler. Southdene Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur. Available from: https://www.mothsofborneo.com/genera/mimeusemia (accessed 15 December 2025)
  26. Joicey, J.J., Talbot, G. & Durrant, J.H. (1916) New Lepidoptera from the Schouten Islands, with description of a new Tineid. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 64 (1), 65–83, pls. 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1916.tb03120.x
  27. Jordan, K. (1908) Some new and some unfigured Lepidoptera. Novitates Zoologicae, 15 (1), 253–258, pls. 9–11. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.15474
  28. Jordan, K. (1912) In: Seitz, A. (Ed.), Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde. Band 11. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge des Indo-Australischen Faunengebietes. Eulenartige Nachtfalter. Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart, pp. 1–496, pls. 1–56. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.62014
  29. Jordan, K. (1926) The Agaristidae and Zygaenidae from the Bismarck Archipelago in the Tring Museum. Novitates Zoologicae, 33 (3), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.21150
  30. Jordan, K. (1939) On some old-world Agaristidae (Lepid.). Novitates Zoologicae, 41, 248.
  31. Joshi, R., Raha, A., Bandyopadhyay, U., Bhattacharyya, K. & Singh, N. (2025) A catalogue of Noctuidae Latreille, 1809 (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) from India. Zootaxa, 5669 (1), 1–225. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5669.1.1
  32. Kalawate, A.S., Pawara, S., Shabnam, A. & Dinesh, K.P. (2020) DNA barcode reveals the occurrence of Palearctic Olepa schleini Witt et al., 2005 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) from peninsular India with morphological variations and a new subspecies. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12 (9), 16143–16152. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5596.12.9.16143-16152
  33. Kirby, W.F. (1892) A synonymic catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera. (Moths). Vol. I. Sphinges & Bombyces. Gurney & Jackson, London, 951 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.9152
  34. Kiriakoff, S.G. (1977) Lepidoptera Noctuiformes Agaristidae I (Palaearctic and Oriental Genera). Das Tierreich. Vol. 97. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 180 pp. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783112420980
  35. Kishida, Y. (1992) The Agaristinae moths of south east Asia (2). Descriptions of two new forms of Mimeusemia and Scrobigera (Noctuidae: Agaristinae). Gekkan-Mushi, 261, 10–11.
  36. Kishida, Y. (1993) The agaristine moths of south east Asia (3). Description of three new forms of Longicella, Cruriopsis and Mimeusemia (Noctuidae: Agaristinae). Gekkan-Mushi, 269, 12–13.
  37. Kishida, Y. (1995) The agaristine moths of south east Asia (4). Descriptions of three new forms of Episteme, Scrobigera and Mimeusemia (Noctuidae: Agaristinae). Gekkan-Mushi, 287, 3–6.
  38. Kishida, Y. & Eda, K. (2016) A new species of the genus Mimeusemia Butler, 1875 from Sumba I., Indonesia (Noctuidae, Agaristinae). Tinea, 23 (4), 224–225.
  39. Kitching, I.J. (1984) An historical review of the higher classification of the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera). Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Entomology, 49 (3), 153–234.
  40. Klots, A.B. (1970) Lepidoptera. In: Tuxen, S.L. (Ed.), Taxonomist’s glossary of genitalia in insects. Munksgaard, Copenhagen, pp. 115–130.
  41. Kononenko, V.S. (2010) Noctuidae Sibiricae, vol. 2. Micronoctuidae, Noctuidae: Rivulinae – Agaristinae (Lepidoptera). Entomological Press, Sorø, 475 pp.
  42. Koshkin, E.S. & Bezborodov, V.G. (2009) First Record of Mimeusemia persimilis Butler, 1875 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Agaristinae) From Amurskaya Oblast. Far Eastern Entomologist, 202, 6.
  43. Kumar, S., Stecher, G., Li, M., Knyaz, C. & Tamura, K. (2018) MEGA X: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis across computing platforms. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 35 (6), 1547–1549. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msy096
  44. Lucas, T.P. (1891) On Queensland and other Australian Macro–Lepidoptera, with localities, and Descriptions of New Species. The Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, Series 2, 6 (2), 277–306. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.15080
  45. Mertens, J., Martijn, V.R., Jonas, M. & Wouter, D. (2017) The use of low-cost compact cameras with focus stacking functionality in entomological digitization projects. ZooKeys, 712, 141–154. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.712.20505
  46. Moore, F. (1858) In: Horsfield, T. & Moore, F. (1858–1859), A Catalogue of the lepidopterous Insects in the Museum of natural History at East-India House. Vol. 2. W.M.H. Allen & Co., London, pp. 279–440. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10966
  47. Nakao, K. (2025) AGARISTINAE. Digital Moths of Asia. Available from: http://www.jpmoth.org/~dmoth/Digital_Moths_of_Asia/90 (accessed 13 March 2025)
  48. Pekarsky, O. (2012) Two new species of Pseudohadena Alphéraky, 1889 from Kazakhstan (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae). ZooKeys, 187, 9–34. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.187.2661
  49. Robinson, G.S. (1976) The preparation of slides of Lepidoptera genitalia with special reference to the Microlepidoptera. Entomologist’s Gazette, 27, 127–132.
  50. Roepke, W. (1945) Remarks on new or little known Indomalayan Moths (Lepid. Heteroc). XII. Natuurhistorisch Maandblad, 34 (9/10), 40.
  51. Rothschild, W. (1896) New Lepidoptera. Novitates Zoologicae, 3 (3), 322–328. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.5424
  52. Rothschild, W. (1897) Descriptions of some new species and subspecies of Lepidoptera. Novitates Zoologicae, 4 (1), 179–184. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.21181
  53. Rothschild, W. (1898) Some new Lepidoptera from the East. Novitates Zoologicae, 5 (2 & 3), 216–219 & 602–605.
  54. Savela, M. (2025) Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Markku Savela, Helsinki. Available from: http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ (accessed 13 January 2026)
  55. Singh, N. & Ranjan, R. (2016) Additions to the Moth Fauna of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand (India). Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 116 (4), 323–336. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v116/i4/2016/117820
  56. Singh, N. (2019) Moths of Bihar and Jharkhand. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper No. 400. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 180 pp.
  57. Strand, E. (1912) Noctuidae: Agaristinae. Lepidopterorum Catalogus. Pars 5. W. Junk, Berlin, 82 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.155816
  58. Singh, N., Kaur, A., Pathania, P.C., Sharma, N., Kalawate, A., Palot, J., Banerjee, D., Talukdar, A., Lenka, R., Kumari, A., Raha, A. & Joshi, R. (2024) Fauna of India Checklist: Arthropoda: Insecta: Lepidoptera. Version 1.0. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Available from: https://zsi.gov.in/uploads/documents/checklist/english/110_Insecta_Lepidoptera.pdf (accessed 14 March 2025) https://doi.org/10.26515/Fauna/1/2023/Arthropoda:Insecta:Lepidoptera
  59. Sugi, S. (1998) Noctuidae: Agaristinae. In: Haruta, T. (Ed.), Moths of Nepal. Part 5. Tinea, 15 (Supplement 1), pp. 69–80.
  60. Swinhoe, C. (1889) On new Indian Lepidoptera, chiefly Heterocera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 57 (4), 396–432, pls. 43–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1889.tb06782.x
  61. Swinhoe, C. (1892) Catalogue of Eastern and Australian Lepidoptera Heterocera in the Collection of the Oxford University Museum. Vol. 1. Sphinges & Bombyces. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 324 pp., 8 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.31501
  62. Swinhoe, C. (1899) New Species of Oriental Lepidoptera. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 3 (13), 102–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939908678084
  63. Thalavaipandi, S. & Prakhalathan, P. (2023) Rediscovery of crepuscular moth Mimeusemia ceylonica Hampson, 1893 (Noctuidae: Agaristinae) after 127 years and its distribution in India. Species, 24 (73), e20s1020. https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v24i73/e20s1020
  64. Walker, F. (1854) List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part II. Lepidoptera Heterocera. Trustees of the British Museum, London, 303 pp. [pp. 279–581] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.58221
  65. Walker, F. (1862) Catalogue of the Heterocerous Lepidopterous Insects collected at Sarawak, in Borneo, by Mr. A.R. Wallace, with Descriptions of New Species. Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology, 7 (26), 49–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1863.tb02102.x
  66. Walker, F. (1865) List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Part XXXIII. Supplement.—Part 3. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London, 414 pp. [pp. 707–1120]
  67. Walker, F. (1866) List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Part XXXIV. Supplement.—Part 4. Edward Newman, London, 413 pp. [pp. 1121–1533]
  68. Wragg, S.A. & Braby, M.F. (2025) Systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the Australian Agaristinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) based on morphology, including a revised checklist of the subfamily. Records of the Australian Museum, 77 (3), 137–173. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.77.2025.1911
  69. Wu, S. & Lu, Y. (2024) New record of Mictocommosis nigromaculata (Issiki, 1930) in Taiwan with the first host plant association for the genus (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae, Archipini). Taiwanese Journal of Entomological Studies, 9 (3), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13839308
  70. Zimmerman, E.C. (1978) Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 9. Microlepidoptera. Part 1. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 1903 pp.

How to Cite

Kalawate, A.S., Misal, P.K., Shikalgar, S., Dinesh, K. & László, G.M. (2026) A new species of the forester moth genus Mimeusemia Butler, 1875 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Agaristinae) from India with DNA barcode data. Zootaxa, 5810 (3), 463–489. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5810.3.3