Kingdom Animalia Order Lepidoptera Family Erebidae Scientific name Asota Rank Genus | Phylum Arthropoda Superfamily Noctuoidea Subfamily Aganainae Higher classification Erebidae | |
Lower classifications Asota caricae, Asota heliconia, Asota plana, Asota egens, Asota producta | ||
Asota is a genus of moths in the Erebidae family. Species are widely distributed throughout Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malayan region and tropical parts of Australian region.
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Description
Palpi upturned, where the second joint reaching vertex of head and third joint slender in variable lengths. Antennae fasciculated in males, and ciliated in females. Forewings with vein 5 from the lower angle of cell or just above it. Vein 6 from the upper angle or below it. Areole absent. Hindwings with vein 5 from just above lower angle of cell. Veins 6 and 7 from the upper angle.
Taxonomy
The genus was formerly placed in the families Noctuidae and Arctiidae by some authors. Other authors placed them in the family Aganaidae or Hypsidae. Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that the Aganainae are most closely related to the Herminiinae (litter moths), and this pair of subfamilies is most closely related to the Arctiinae (tiger and lichen moths), all within the family Erebidae.