Distribution of Urania

[saye]

I would like to know if anyone has any reference (literature or otherwise) on the distribution of the Urania (Fabricius , 1807) genus [Uraniidae/Uraniinae]. Or, if it's just easier to confirm, if this genus is confined to the neotropics.

This (scroll down to Urania) would indicate so, to some extent, but it's missing half the species, plus it has no references.

Thanks.


(Would also like to greet everyone! (there's no specific page for this?), since I'm new here.)

[nomihoudai]

Well if you just include the mid-sized single tailed species into the genus Urania then yes, they should just occur in the Neotropics. Many people don't split up the subgenus Chrysiridia from Africa, but I think it is a good thing to do so. The page you showed is as far as I know the most complete so I don't know where to get more references. At the Biodoversity Heritage Library website or archive.org you could search for more free (but old) articles related to the genus. As far as I know not much work has been seriously dedicated to these moths (although Alcides is a highly sought after collecting item and that one has a book dedicated when I remember correctly).

Welcome to insectnet, sometimes people introduce themselves in the porch light section as it is off topic from insects.

Rgds Claude.

[cabintom]

I can't help with the question, but I do want to say "Welcome!"

Tom

[saye]

@ Claude
I do in fact make a distinction for Chrysiridia (C. ripheus for it's fame alone would warrant so (so to speak)) and refer to the Urania as a genus with about twelve species which are represented in the Neotropics. As asked, I just haven't been able to fully confirm this. Do you know to what extent would other genera be forced into subgenera under Urania? You wrote "the mid-sized single tailed species"; is or could the largest wingspan genus, Lyssa, for example, be considered a subgenus anywhere? It seems you've implied that it might, even though you then mentioned only Chrysiridia.
And I agree, there's little information on the genus, and the family as a whole, for a group of moths that is supposedly widely recognized.

And thanks, I'll skip that then - since I already got started.

Another thing: I intend to make a thread that will use images, is there any place you recommend for upload?

@ Tom
Thanks!

[nomihoudai]

Upload them here. I implied Chrysiridia which have larger wingspans than the Urania sensu stricto from the neotropics. Lyssa looks like something completely different, so for me standalone, but then on the other hand genera are difficult to define.

[saye]

Right, though I noticed in other threads that the links for images were internal, I did not see the "add attachment" option. Thanks.
And it seems I did not word what I meant properly; my question was in regards to the possibility of other genera having been previously under Urania or yet still so under whatever sources (not necessarily as subgenera, but species), much like well known (of old) lepidotera were at some point under Papilio.

[nomihoudai]

Press the reply button instead of the "Post Quick Reply" at the bottom and then it takes you to a more elaborate editor with image uploading function. The 12 species listed on the iNaturalist seem fine to be only Urania, but some of the words probably are synonyms of other species.