@article {22084, title = {Mitochondrial genomes and polymorphic regions of Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), two important edible caterpillars of Southern Africa}, journal = {International Journal of Biological Macromolecules}, volume = {144}, year = {2020}, month = {01/2020}, pages = {632-642}, chapter = {632}, abstract = {

\"Mopane worms are the vernacular designation for the edible caterpillars of the African emperor moths Gonimbrasia belina and Gynanisa maja. Both species, particularly G. belina, are widely harvested in Southern Africa, and their populations are declining. Despite their commercial, nutritional, and cultural importance, their genetic data are currently unavailable. We sequenced two complete mitogenomes from each species using Ion Torrent technology, and identified informative markers in the complete mitogenomes of the two species for use in future studies. Comparing the conspecific mitogenomes allowed the identification of regions with high nucleotide diversity in ATP6, ND1, ND4, ND5, ND6, and CYTB genes. The final panels of markers will allow for the survey of 3117 bp in G. belina, and 3990 bp in Gy. maja. Phylogenetic reconstruction within the family Saturniidae recovered the tribe Bunaeini as monophyletic and basal to Saturniidae, and the tribe Attacini as a monophyletic clade nested within the tribe Saturniini. The G. belina and Gy. maja mitogenomes are the first representatives of African Saturniidae, a taxonomic group with relevance as a food resource on the continent. This study represents the first step towards assessing the genetic diversity, population structure, and phylogeography of African edible caterpillars.\"

}, keywords = {BAYESIAN INFERENCE, BUNAEINI, GONIMBRASIA, GYNANISA, HUMAN FOOD, MITOGENOME, MTDNA, NAMIBIA, PHYLOGENY, SATURNIIDAE, SOUTH AFRICA}, author = {Langley, J. and Van der Westhuizen, S. and Morland, G. and van Asch, B.} } @article {21521, title = {Phylogenetic hypothesis and classification: theoretical and methodological issues with reference to some studies on Saturniidae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)}, journal = {SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterolog{\'\i}a}, volume = {34}, year = {2006}, pages = {5-12}, chapter = {5}, keywords = {BUNAEINI, CLASSIFICATION, DNA, HIGHER CLASSIFICATION, MORPHOLOGY, PHYLOGENY, SATURNIIDAE, UROTINI}, author = {Racheli, L. and Racheli, T.} } @article {21519, title = {Phylogenetic relationships of wild silkmoths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) inferred from four protein-coding nuclear genes}, journal = {Systematic Entomology}, volume = {33}, year = {2008}, pages = {219-228}, chapter = {219}, abstract = {

\"The Saturniidae, or wild silkmoths, number approximately 1861 species in 162 genera and nine subfamilies including Cercophaninae and Oxyteninae. They include some of the largest and most spectacular of all Lepidoptera, such as the moon or luna moths, atlas moths, emperor moths, and many others. Saturniids have been important as sources of wild silk and/or human food in a number of cultures, and as models for comparative studies of genetics, development, physiology, and ecology. Seeking to improve the phylogenetic framework for such studies, we estimated relationships across Saturniidae, sampling all nine subfamilies plus all five tribes of Saturniinae. Seventy-five exemplars (45 Saturniidae plus 30 bombycoid outgroups) were sequenced for four protein-coding nuclear gene regions (5625 bp total), namely CAD (the fusion protein carbamoylphosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase), DDC (dopa decarboxylase), period, and wingless. The data, analyzed by parsimony and likelihood, gave a strongly resolved phylogeny at all levels. Relationships among subfamilies largely mirrored the pre-cladistic hypothesis of Michener, albeit with significant exceptions, and there was definitive support for the morphology-based proposal that Ludiinae form a tribe (Micragonini) within Saturniinae. In the latter subfamily, the African tribe Urotini was shown to be paraphyletic with respect to Bunaeini and Micragonini, also in accord with recent morphological findings. Relationships within the New World subfamilies Arsenurinae, Ceratocampinae and Hemileucinae nearly always accord with previous morphology-based phylogenies when both are clearly resolved. Within Hemileucinae, Hemileucini are paraphyletic with respect to the monotypic Polythysanini. A preliminary biogeographical analysis supports ancestral restriction to the New World, followed by dispersal and/or vicariance splitting most of the family into a largely New World versus a largely Old World clade.\"

}, keywords = {ARSENURINAE, BUNAEINI, CAD, CERATOCAMPINAE, CERCOPHANINAE, DDC, HEMILEUCINAE, MICRAGONINI, OXYTENINAE, PERIOD, PHYLOGENY, POLYTHYSANA, SATURNIIDAE, SATURNIINAE, UROTINI, WINGLESS}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3113.2007.00416.x}, author = {Regier, J.C. and Grant, M.C. and Mitter, C. and Cook, C.P. and Peigler, R.S. and Rougerie, R.} } @article {21508, title = {Notes on the Saturniidae of the Arabian Peninsula, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)}, journal = {Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo (N.F.)}, volume = {36}, year = {2015}, pages = {31-38}, chapter = {31}, abstract = {

\"The available information of the two saturniid species recorded from the south-western region of the Arabian Peninsula is summarised and updated. Campimoptilum arabicum (Rougeot, 1977) comb. n. is transferred from the genus Goodia Holland, 1893 to Campimoptilum Karsch, 1896, and Usta arabica sp. n. is described as new and differentiated from its most similar species, U. angulata Rothschild, 1895. The classification of the Saturniidae is reconciled with recent advances made in the phylogeny of the family, Bunaeinae are recognised as a subfamily and brief notes on the composition of the tribes Micragonini and Urotini are given. Comments are provided on the recent subdivision of the genus Goodia, and Yatanga Darge, 2008 syn. n. is synonymised with Campimoptilum, Yatanga sicca Darge, 2011 syn. n. with C. smithii (Holland, 1897) and Yatanga sudanica Darge, 2011 syn. n. and Y. tandala Darge, 2011 syn. n. with C. oriens (Hampson, 1909).\"

}, keywords = {BUNAEINAE, BUNAEINI, CAMPIMOPTILUM, CATALOGUE, GOODIA, HIGHER CLASSIFICATION, MALE GENITALIA, MICRAGONINI, SATURNIIDAE, SAUDI ARABIA, UROTINI, USTA, WORLDMAP1, YATANGA, YEMEN}, author = {N{\"a}ssig, W.A. and Naumann, S. and Oberprieler, R.G.} } @article {21464, title = {Classification of the African Saturniidae (Lepidoptera) - the quest for natural groups and relationships}, journal = {Metamorphosis Occasional Supplement}, volume = {3}, year = {1997}, month = {12/1997}, pages = {142-155}, chapter = {142}, abstract = {

\"The development of the higher classification of the African Saturniidae is reviewed, concluding that the current system, which dates back to Bouvier (1936), is typologically orientated and largely obscures the indicated natural, phylogenetic relationships of this fauna. The five major groups of these moths, viz. Micragonini, Urotini, Bunaeini, Saturniini and Attacini, are briefly discussed, rectifying several nomenclatural errors (such as the homonymy and synonymy of Ludiini and Pseudapheliini auctt.), giving some diagnostic characters of possible phylogenetic significance and commenting on the composition of these groups. It is concluded that a natural classification of the African Saturniidae is only possible by conducting a careful and thorough phylogenetic analysis of all features, especially of preimaginal characters, which were largely ignored in the past, and also of genetic and molecular aspects.\"

}, keywords = {ATTACINI, BUNAEINI, CATALOGUE, HIGHER CLASSIFICATION, MICRAGONINI, SATURNIIDAE, SATURNIINAE, SATURNIINI, UROTINI}, issn = {1027-0787}, url = {https://www.metamorphosis.org.za/articlesPDF/931/Metamorphosis\%20Occ.\%20Supp.\%203\%20\%2089-188\%20complete.pdf}, author = {Oberprieler, R.G.} } @book {21439, title = {The emperor moths of KwaZulu-Natal}, series = {The Ihlathi Series}, year = {2002}, pages = {xvi + 103}, publisher = {Peroniceras Press}, organization = {Peroniceras Press}, address = {New Germany, South Africa}, keywords = {ARGEMA, AURIVILLIUS, BUNAEA, BUNAEINI, BUNAEOPSIS, CATALOGUE, CINABRA, CIRINA, EPIPHORA, FOODPLANT, GONIMBRASIA, GOODIA, GYNANISA, HENIOCHA, HIGHER CLASSIFICATION, HOLOCERINA, IMBRASIA, IMMATURE STAGES, LOBOBUNAEA, LUDIA, MELANOCERA, MICRAGONE, NUDAURELIA, PSELAPHELIA, PSEUDAPHELIA, PSEUDOBUNAEA, SATURNIIDAE, SATURNIINAE, TAGOROPSIS, UROTA, UROTINI, USTA}, isbn = {0-620-29623-2}, author = {Cooper, M.R. and Cooper, M.D.} }