A revision of the genus Ecpyrrhorrhoe Hubner, 1825 from China based on morphology and molecular data, with descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Pyraustinae)

The genus Ecpyrrhorrhoe Hubner, 1825 is revised. Most type materials were examined, and a preliminary phylogeny is presented based on a combined dataset of COI, 16S rRNA, 28S rRNA and EF-1 alpha gene regions. The tree topology and morphological characters suggest that Paliga Moore, 1886 is a new synonym of Ecpyrrhorrhoe, and Yezobotys Munroe & Mutuura, 1969 is restored as a valid genus. According to the morphological evidence and tree topology, 17 species are recorded, including five new species described from China: E. allochroa Zhang & Xiang, sp. nov., E. rosisquama Xiang & Zhang, sp. nov., E. exigistria Zhang & Xiang, sp. nov., E. brevis Zhang & Xiang, sp. nov. and E. longispinalis Zhang & Xiang, sp. nov. Seven new combinations are created, E. daniastesalis (Walker, 1859), comb. nov., E. minnehaha (Pryer, 1877), comb. nov., E. obliquata (Moore, 1888), comb. nov., E. rufipicta (Butler, 1880), comb. nov., E. fimbriata (Moore, 1886), comb. nov., E. machoeralis (Walker, 1859), comb. nov., and E. rubellalis (Snellen, 1890), comb. nov., as well as eight new synonyms, namely Leucocraspeda auratalis Warren, 1895, syn. nov., Pionea schenklingi Strand, 1918, syn. nov., Paliga rubicundalis Warren, 1896, syn. nov., E. angustivalvaris Gao, Zhang & Wang, 2013, syn. nov., Pyrausta pygniaealis South, 1901, syn. nov., E. multispinalis Gao, Zhang &Wang, 2013, syn. nov., E. aduncis Gao, Zhang & Wang, 2013, syn. nov., and E. ruidispinalis Zhang, Li & Wang, 2004, syn. nov. All adults and their genital structures are illustrated and an identification kcy based on adult external morphology and genitalia is provided.

Automated summary

The genus Ecpyrrhorrhoe is revised, with most type materials examined and a preliminary phylogeny presented. The study suggests that Paliga is a synonym of Ecpyrrhorrhoe, and Yezobotys should be restored as a valid genus. Seventeen species are recorded, including five new species described from China. The study also creates seven new combinations and eight new synonyms, and provides an identification key based on adult external morphology and genitalia.