| Abstract: | Aphalaroida comprises a compact group of nine species feeding on mimosoid legume host plants in the southern USA and Central America. The species, acaciae Crawford, californica Tuthill, inermis Crawford, lysilomae sp. n., masonici (Caldwell), pithecolobia Crawford, prosopis Crawford, rauca sp. n. and spinifera Crawford, are keyed out and data are given on host plants and distributions. Characters previously used to separate species are unreliable, and there is strong evidence to suggest that some species are polymorphic with respect to fore wing pattern. This had led to much confusion, with type series often containing mixtures of species. Fore wing shape, the form of male and female terminalia, the shape of the genae and the presence/distribution of glandular hairs are the most reliable diagnostic characters. |
