Burrowed through time: Exploring the enigmatic Cossidae moths of Georgia

This study provides a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the carpenter moth family Cossidae (Lepidoptera: Cossoidea) in Georgia, located within the South Caucasus region. Integrating historical records, museum collections, and recent field surveys, we present an updated fauna comprising 22 species across 13 genera. Five species are described here as new to science: Dyspessa confusa Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov.

(♂), Dyspessa parvana Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. (♂), Stygioides jarii Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. (♂), Stygioides mirifica Japaridze, Makharadze, Bulbulashvili, Seropian, sp. nov.

(♂ ♀), and Phragmataecia ignota Japaridze, Makharadze, Seropian, sp. nov. (♂) The genus Stygioides Braund, 1853 is recorded from Georgia for the first time. Additionally, Deserticossus volgensis (Christoph, 1893), Dyspessa cerberus Daniel, 1939, and D. tsvetaevi Yakovlev, 2008 are newly recorded from the South Caucasus.

Based on re-examination of material, Dyspessa alpherakyi Christoph, 1885, D. pallidata Staudinger, 1892, and Isoceras bipunctatum Staudinger, 1887 are excluded from the Georgian fauna. The name Holcocerus didmanidzae Yakovlev, 2006 is corrected to Holcocerus didmanidzeae Yakovlev, 2006 in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Detailed collection data, diagnostic images, and COI barcode sequences of eight species are provided to support future ecological and biogeographical studies.