Malagasy Polka Dot Moths (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini) of Ambohitantely-endemism in the most important relict of Central Plateau rainforest in Madagascar.

Abstract

Malagasy Syntomini (Polka Dot Moths) are one of the largest endemic lineages of Lepidoptera on the island, belonging to the Tiger Moth subfamily (Arctiinae). This diverse radiation comprises nearly 100 valid described species that share a single ancestor. Despite a monograph in 1964 by Paul Griveaud, systematics of the group greatly needs modern revision, and their distribution on the island is still poorly known. This contribution concerns the diversity of Syntomini of the Réserve Spéciale d’Ambohitantely, which protects the largest remaining, but already highly fragmented, vestige of Central Plateau rainforest in Madagascar. Here we provide an annotated checklist of the eight species occurring in the Reserve. Two species are recorded from the forest for the first time, while five endemics are until now known only from Ambohitantely. We also describe for the first time the female of Thyrosticta vestigii Griveaud, 1964 and of Maculonaclia tampoketsya Griveaud, 1969, as well as a yellow morphotype of Thyrosticta dilata Griveaud, 1964, and we redescribe and illustrate the genitalia of the remaining species. The significance of such colour pattern variation in aposematic moths and the role of this Reserve as a local centre of diversity of Malagasy Syntomini together with its importance in the protection of the biodiversity of Madagascar are discussed.