A study on the taxonomy and distribution of Brahmaea certhia species group (Lepidoptera: Brahmaeidae) using an integrative approach and websites data

This paper reviews the taxonomy and distribution of East Asian moths from Brahmaea certhia species group (Lepidoptera: Brahmaeidae), using an integrative approach and extensive involvement of websites data. A review of the taxonomic history of this group is given. Based on the correlation of morphological and genetic data on the ‘barcode’ fragment of COI gene, the presence of two species in this group is substantiated, Brahmaea certhia (Fabricius, 1793) and Brahmaea tancrei Austaut, 1896, the second of which is represented by two subspecies, Brahmaea tancrei tancrei Austaut, 1896 and Brahmaea tancrei diastemata (Zhang & Yang, 1993).

The morphological differences between these taxa are analysed and keys to the species and subspecies are given. The distribution of each taxon is specified and their brief ecological characteristics are reviewed. Some comments on the systematics of the genus Brahmaea Walker, 1855 as a whole are made.

The following nomenclature acts are proposed: Brahmaea certhia (Fabricius, 1793) = Saturnia lunulata Bremer & Grey, 1853, stat. resurr., Saturnia undulata Bremer & Grey, 1853, stat. resurr., Brahmaea carpenteri Butler, 1883, stat. resurr., Brahmaea bicolor Matsumura, 1921, stat. resurr., Brahmaea separata Yang & Zhang, 1994, syn. nov., Brahmaea recta Yang & Zhang, 1994, syn. nov., Brahmaea goniata Zhang & Yang, 1994, syn. nov.; Brahmaea tancrei tancrei Austaut, 1896, stat. resurr. = Brahmaea magnificentia Bryk, stat. resurr., Brahmaea jilinensis Zhang, 1988, syn. nov.; Brahmaea tancrei diastemata (Zhang & Yang, 1993), stat. nov.