Morphological characteristics of the genus Phalera (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) at the larval stage with keys and descriptions to the Ukrainian species

I. V.  Dolinskaya

doi:10.15407/zoo2026.05.501

I. V. Dolinskaya I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7635-3505

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/zoo2026.05.501

Keywords: prominent moths, Ukraine, morphology, caterpillars 1–5 instars, descriptions, keys, digital camera, scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

The morphological characters of each larval instar of the two Ukrainian notodontid moth species belonging to the genus Phalera Hübner, 1819 were examined using a scanning electron microscope : the shape, colour and pattern of the head and body; the microsculpture of the head; and the form and diversity of the setae, stemmata and mouthparts. A comparative morphological analysis of these structures is provided. The morphological characteristics and their transformations during larval development are discussed. Identification keys to the two species of the genus Phalera occurring in Ukraine are presented. Through this analysis, we identified the diagnostic and taxonomic characteristics of the genus Phalera and the studied species. We also identified features common to some taxa within the family.

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