Ustyurtiidae Kaila, Heikkilä & Nupponen, a new family of Urodoidea is introduced. The family is based on the genus Ustyurtia Kaila, Heikkilä & Nupponen, gen. n. The genus includes the type species U. zygophyllivora Kaila, Heikkilä & Nupponen, sp. n. and U. charynica Kaila, Heikkilä & Nupponen, sp. n., both from Kazakhstan. These two species, in particular the immature stages, have morphological attributes apomorphic of Urodoidea. The close affinity is also supported by DNA data based on several markers. We consider this new family warranted due to its sister group position to the remaining Urodoidea and a number of significant morphological differences in wing venation, male genitalia and the structure of the cocoon, apomorphic for Ustyurtiidae on the basis of an earlier published phylogeny. All other recognized genera of Urodoidea belong to the family Urodidae. The closest relatives and phylogenetic position of Urodoidea are not firmly established, but Urodoidea and Schreckensteinioidea have morphological similarities which, in the light of genetic analyses appear synapomorphic and possibly uniting these groups, rather than homoplasious as assumed earlier. The affinities of these superfamilies are discussed.
First record of the nemoral Eastern Palaearctic species Catocala helena Eversmann, 1856 is reported from Samara Region as new to Europe. New localities in the South Urals and West Siberia are reported for the first time. The present records expand the species distribution for more than 2500 km to the west. The general species’ distribution and bionomics is provided. Species’ habitats in the South Urals are illustrated.
The poorly known Noctuidae species, Anarta (Calocestra) mirabilis Volynkin, 2014 is reposted from Kazakhstan for the first time. The species was found in Aktobe, Karaganda, Abai and East Kazakhstan Regions of the country. The distributional map and data on the species bionomics are provided.
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