Moths of Africa. Systematic and Illustrated Catalogue of the Heterocera of Africa Vol. 1-2

Description:

Vol. 1: Biogeography, Boletobiidae (Erebidae); Vol. 2: Rivulinae, Hypeninae, Herminiinae, Hypenodinae (Erebidae). This new series embraces an inventory of the Heterocera of Continental Africa, including the Mediterranean northern part, and its adjacent islands, including Madagascar. The books will be the result of broadly based studies of museum holdings and all available public and private collections during the last decades. As far as possible, specific identification will be based on the study and evaluation of the type specimens. Most species will be illustrated in colour, including male and female genitalia, and there will be other important information to give a strong foundation for accurate determination.

Vol. 1: The review of all available African and Madagascan Boletobiinae taxa covers more than 675 species distributed over 4 tribes and numerous genera. Special emphasis is given to descriptions and coloured illustrations, and of genitalia features. Male and female genitalia of nearly all species are illustrated, and in some cases distribution maps are provided. For a number of taxonomically difficult groups, dendrograms show the molecular genetic distance between species in comparison. All species are illustrated in colour and it is hoped that these illustrations alone can serve as a source for the identification of superficially identifiable species. If known, also habitat preference and biology are given. All species are arranged in biogeographical categories, according to the definitions of those units at the first setout. The review of the African Boletobiinae includes descriptions of 4 genera, 266 species and 7 subspecies new to science.

Vol. 2: In this volume 44 species of the subfamily Rivulinae, 198 of Hypeninae, 290 of Herminiinae and 30 of Hypenodinae are described and figured. The review includes descriptions of 1 genus, 252 species and 6 subspecies new to science. To date no systematic survey of the moths of these four subfamilies of the Erebidae from the African Continent has been undertaken - either a faunistic analysis, or even a check-list of species. For each species, a diagnosis and the geograpical range are given, and when known, details of habitat preference and biology. All species are presented with their full name and references to the original description, with fully referenced synonyms.

Special emphasis is given to descriptions and coloured illustrations, and to figures of genitalia features of both sexes, which were selected from more than 5.000 dissections. Male and female genitalia of nearly all species are illustrated, and in some cases distribution maps are provided. DNA sequencing was performed for approx. 600 Ethiopian African specimens, following Ratnasingham & Hebert (2007) using the Kimura 2 Parameter model. All species are illustrated in colour and these illustrations alone will serve as a means of identification for those species identifiable by external characteristics.

Condition

2 vols. Fine in dw's. From the library of British lepidopterist Barry Goater, with his bookplate. Barry Goater was a contributor to both volumes and there is a handwritten slip inserted from the editor thanking him for his advice and support.