taxonID	type	description	language	source
03C887BEFFDDFF90FF4611F8798EFA9C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Megalographa was established to accommodate those New World plusiines with a bilobed silver stigma in the forewing. This stigma, which looks like two large joined adjacent hemispheres, is characteristic of all but one of the known species, although in three species the spots may be partially or completely separated. Although the genus ranges throughout the Americas (largely because M. biloba is a migratory species) most species are found in the southern half of South America, particularly in the Andes. Lafontaine and Poole (1991) were aware of an undescribed species from the mountains of Costa Rica which we describe below. Megalographa is best characterized by genital characters. In the male genitalia the valve is relatively short and broad; the clavus at the base of the sacculus is a short process (longer in M. biloba); the vesica is short, 1.0 – 1.5 X as long as the aedeagus and with a subbasal pouch and an apical pouch in four species and a distinctive canoe-shaped cornutus at the apex in four species. In the female genitalia the corpus bursae is long, slender, J-shaped, usually with a mesial twist; the corpus bursae usually is 2 – 4 X as long as the ductus bursae but is 6 X as long in M. talamanca. The larva of the well known and wide ranging M. biloba is distinct among plusiines because the segments are covered dorsally with a fine pelage of moderately long white hairlike spines which become coarse, conical spinules ventrally. Male and female genitalia are typical of other New World plusiines which historically have been arranged in genera largely on the basis of their forewing patterns, particularly the stigma. Phylogeny. Lafontaine and Poole (1991) suggested that based on genitalic characters, Megalographa could be closely related to Lophoplusia Zimmerman, a genus restricted to Hawaii, because both genera share the peculiar canoe-shaped cornutus at the apex of the vesica (Figure 14). DNA sequence analyses of the CO 1 locus indicates that Megalographa is most closely related to Anagrapha McDunnough and Syngrapha Hübner (5 – 6 % different) (Hebert et al. 2003; Ratnasingham and Hebert 2007), although CO 1 from Lophoplusia have not been sampled. The genera Megalographa, Anagrapha, Syngrapha, Autographa Hübner occupy a distinct phylogenetic branch within the New World plusiines (genera sequenced are: Abrostola Ochsenheimer, Allagrapha Franclemont, Anagrapha, Argyrogramma Hübner, Autographa, Chrysanympha Grote, Diachrysia Hübner, Enigmogramma Lafontaine and Poole, Eosphoropteryx Dyar, Exyra Grote, Euchalcia Hübner, Plusia Ochsenheimer, Polychrysia Hübner, Pseudeva Hampson, Syngrapha and Trichoplusia McDunnough). Within the clade containing Megalographa, Autographa is the sister group to the other three genera and Megalographa is the sister group to Syngrapha with Anagrapha nested within Syngrapha (pers. observation).	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDDFF90FF4611F8798EFA9C.taxon	discussion	Discussion. Megalographa would seem to be a genus of South American origin which spread northward via the species M. biloba, a well known migrant. The undescribed species in Costa Rica and the genus Lophoplusia may have originated from periodic migrations of a biloba - like ancestor.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDAFF96FF4613FC7E9AF8BC.taxon	description	(Figure 2, 10, 15)	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDAFF96FF4613FC7E9AF8BC.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the lack of silvery-white shading on the reniform spot and the brownish-gray forewing with hoary-gray shading in the outer and costal parts of the wing. The silver stigma mark is separated into two spots in four of the 12 specimens examined. The sexes are similar. In the male genitalia, the clasper reaches the costa; the clavus is short; the vesica is slightly upcurved mesially with a slight dorsal bulge mesially and apically and a long, slender apical cornutus. In the female genitalia, the ductus bursae is very long, 0.5 X as long as the corpus bursae; the posterior half of the corpus bursae has long sclerotized, spiculate bands, like those of the ductus bursae; the appendix bursae is about 0.3 X as long as the corpus bursae but appears shorter because it curls dorsally around the posterior end of the corpus bursae.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDAFF96FF4613FC7E9AF8BC.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa agualaniata occurs in montane areas of South America from Venezuela and Colombia southward to Bolivia and Peru.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDAFF96FF46157C7FB2FB3B.taxon	description	(Figure 1, 9)	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDAFF96FF46157C7FB2FB3B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Megalographa monoxyla is recognizable by its pattern. The lack of silvery-white shading on the reniform spot, the silver stigma mark noticeably angled toward the costa basally, and the reddishbrown ground color with a bronzy hue are characteristic. The silver stigma is separated into two spots in one of three specimens examined. The hindwing is lighter than those of other Megalographa species except M. bonaerensis. In the male genitalia the clasper extends well beyond the costa of the valve; the clavus is reduced to a small process. The vesica is slightly upcurved, with a prominent dorsal bulge mesially and a slender apical cornutus. The sexes are similar. The female is known only from the holotype which has not been dissected.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFDAFF96FF46157C7FB2FB3B.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa monoxyla is known only from Peru and Bolivia and has a narrow distribution in the Andes. Its simple pattern and central distribution may indicate it has a basal position in the phylogeny of the genus.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF94FF4615FC7944FA7C.taxon	description	(Figure 5, 11, 16)	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF94FF4615FC7944FA7C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This species is immediately recognizable from the adult wing pattern and bright coloration. The wing apex is darkened, the silver spot in the lower part of the reniform spot is prominent and oval with a dark spot in the basal third. The wing margin is evenly colored and the hindwing is yellowish buff. The sexes are similar. In the male genitalia the clasper is upcurved, extending slightly beyond the costa of the valve; the clavus is short; the vesica is straight with a slight median swelling and a long, stout apical cornutus. In the female genitalia, the ductus bursae and appendix bursae are both about 0.3 X as long as the corpus bursae; there is a short zone of sclerotized, spiculate ridges subbasally in the corpus bursae near its junction with the ductus bursae.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF94FF4615FC7944FA7C.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa bonaerensis occurs from southern Brazil and Paraguay southward to northern Argentina and Chile and does not follow the mountains.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF94FF4617DC7FEAFD3C.taxon	description	(Figure 3, 4)	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF94FF4617DC7FEAFD3C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This species is an anomaly. The forewing pattern is unlike any other species of Megalographa, whereas the genitalia appear to be indistinguishable from those of M. agualaniata. The species can easily be recognized within Megalographa by the elongated, narrow, tapering stigma, not the usually bilobed or two-lobed stigma of the other species in the genus. The sexes are similar. The male genitalia are like those of M. agualaniata (Fig. 10), but the uncus is slightly stouter and the mesial bulge in the vesica is positioned closer to the base because the basal part of the vesica is much shorter in M. culminicola.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF94FF4617DC7FEAFD3C.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa culminicola occurs in the páramo zone, 3300 – 3940 m, high in the Andes in Ecuador and northern Peru.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF9BFF46113C7F12F9B5.taxon	description	(Figure 6, 12, 17)	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF9BFF46113C7F12F9B5.taxon	materials_examined	Plusia biloba Stephens 1830: 104. Type: male, BMNH, London [examined]; Type locality: unknown. Note: The species was nominally described from England, where it occurs occasionally as a fall migrant from North America, but Stephens was also known to have mixed North American material in with European material in error.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF9BFF46113C7F12F9B5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Megalographa biloba was thoroughly characterized by Lafontaine and Poole (1991) with adults and genitalia figured. It differs from M. talamanca in several aspects. In the region where M. talamanca was collected, three M. biloba were taken at lower altitudes (2200 – 2600 m). These M. biloba are smaller (male wing length: 14.1 mm; female wing length: 15.6 mm) and the silver hemispheres of the stigma are joined. The postmedian line is notched between M 3 and CUA 1 in M. biloba; in M. talamanca there is a defined dash. The silver crescent below the reniform spot is entire and prominent in M. biloba but often broken and indistinct in M. talamanca. In the male genitalia the clavus is approximately the length of the clasper in M. biloba but 0.25 X its length in M. talamanca (M. biloba clasper (0.31 mm) and clavus (0.31 mm); M. talamanca clasper (0.50 mm) and clavus (0.13 mm). The subbasal evagination in the vesica is larger in M. biloba. In the female genitalia, the ductus bursae is 0.25 X as long as the corpus bursae, whereas in M. talamanca it is 0.13 X as long, and the corpus bursae has a mesial twist where the bursa bends through a 90 o angle that is absent in M. talamanca.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD8FF9BFF46113C7F12F9B5.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa biloba is widely distributed from southern United States southward through Central and South America to Argentina. It occurs farther north into northern United States and southern Canada as a seasonal migrant where it usually produces one or two generations each summer, but it rarely survives the winter in the northern part of its range. It also occurs in the Hawaiian Islands but it is unknown if the species occurs there naturally or was introduced. The species also occurs as a rare migrant in Great Britain, mainly in the summer and fall, but its travel to Europe could be aided by ships crossing the Atlantic.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD7FF99FF461145799CFD1B.taxon	description	(Figure 7, 8, 13, 18)	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD7FF99FF461145799CFD1B.taxon	materials_examined	Type locality. Cerro de la Muerte, Provincia San José, Costa Rica. Type material. Holotype, male: Costa Rica. Provincia Cartago: El Guarco, San Isidro, Estacion Esperanza, 2700 m, R Delgado (INBio). Paratypes: 26 m, 8 f: Costa Rica. Provincia Cartago: Cerro de la Muerte, [Hotel La Georgina], 3300 m, 23 – 24. ii. 1987, Lafontaine and Wood (2 m); Provincia San José: Estación Biológica, Cerro de la Muerte, Reserva los Nimbulos, 09 o 33 ' 42.3 " N, 83 o 44 ' 27.2 " W, 3150 m, 20. iii. 2004, J. B. Sullivan & J. D. Lafontaine (8 m, 6 f); 24 - 27. vii. 2006, J. B. Sullivan & B. Espinosa (8 m 2 f). (CNC, USNM, JBS); Provincia San Jose: 4.6 km. E. of Villa Mills, 2640 m, 17 - 22. iii. 1996 (5 m); 7 - 10. xii. 1996 (3 m) (INBio).	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD7FF99FF461145799CFD1B.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the mountain range in Costa Rica where the species occupies elevations above 3000 m.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD7FF99FF461145799CFD1B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This species is easily confused with M. biloba but usually can be recognized externally by the more roughened bronzy-brown ground color, more even postmedial line, and the relatively smaller silvery-white stigma that is separated into two spots in two thirds of the specimens. The male genitalia differ from those of the other species in the genus, other than M. biloba, in having a more slender uncus, the vesica lacks an apical cornutus, and the swelling in the vesica is subbasal rather than mesial. They differ from those of M. biloba in having a short clavus, like other species in the genus, and in having an almost straight vesica with a small dorsal pouch subbasally. In the female genitalia, the corpus bursae is long and J-shaped, without the mesial coil and angle of M. biloba.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD7FF99FF461145799CFD1B.taxon	description	Description. Palpae with middle segment 2 X length of other segments. Brown dorsally with scattered gray scales, laterally brown, sooty gray scales ventrally, light gray scales prominent on upper half of 2 nd segment. Pinkish-gray scales on ventral edge and on inner surface. Frons a dense mass of brown upright scales tipped in gray; upright scales length of 2 nd palpal segment. Interantennal area with similar scaling but only 0.66 X as long. Eye round, without setae or lashes; ocelli present. Scape white distally, base brown. Antennae fasciculate; 8 – 10 sublateral setae on each segment side, setal length about half width of segment; approximately 84 segments per antenna which has white scaling on dorsal side along basal half of flagellum and orange tan ventrally. Collar a mass of upright scales, tricolored from basal orange to brown mesially to white tips. Thoracic scales similarly colored, almost 2 X as long as those of collar; tegula similarly scaled, two masses of scales extended toward abdominal tip. Abdomen with dark-brown dorsal tuft on T 1 and T 2; remaining segments gray dorsally, whereas ventral side is straw and pink scaled. Leg dorsally with chocolate colored scales with light gray tips; ventrally mostly pale yellow. Tarsal joints usually white tipped. Tympanum with large hood with a distinct white abdominal tuft above it. Wing ground color iridescent brown with dark reddish brown, and silver areas. Stigma usually two separate silver, tear shaped hemispheres, basally joined in a third of the specimens, particularly females. Median line angles toward thorax, proximally gray. Reniform spot a black dot, silver horseshoe-shaped crescent below it often broken. Transverse lines silver. Basal area reddish brown; median area of wing brown with some gray and some rusty patches; postmedian line appears double and is crossed in middle by black dash that extends to wing margin. Area beyond postmedian line gray then two toned brown distally above median dash; below dash colors reversed. Terminal line dark chocolate; fringe pale gray basally, dark gray brown distally. Costa almost black. Wing margin gently rounded. Spot-like rusty patch inward from junction of pm line and anal edge of wing. Hind wings fuscous; veins outlined with darker scaling. Postmedian line barely visible dorsally. Ventrally, postmedian line and discal spots prominent on both wings. Marginal line dark. Hindwings more yellow below; retinaculum a distinct patch of yellow scales. Sexes difficult to determine using frenulum because placement is quite similar in both sexes with setae in female retinaculum appressed and inserted below costa, not extended above margin of hindwing. Scaling below eye noticeably reddish brown. Sexes similar except that antennal setae reduced in females to a single bristle per segment attached to distal half of each segment. Wing length: males 15.8 – 17.8 mm; average 16.8 mm (N = 12); females 17.4 – 18.9 mm; average 18.2 mm (N = 6). Male pelt moderately sclerotized, terminal sternite with well defined, horseshoe-shaped apodeme. Valve with long, pointed uncus adorned on dorsal surface of distal third with setae about 2 X width of uncus. Tegumen broad, sclerotized lightly in median area. Valva palmate shaped with mesial bulge along anal margin. Distinct hair-like socketed setae on rounded apex, longer setae along anal margin to below bulge. Clasper (ampulla) fleshy tubercule, apical half with numerous setae, length about 0.5 X of widest part of valva. Ridge bearing clasper extends from basal area of valva to top of bulged region and slightly anal of mid valve. Clavus tubercle-like extension 0.5 X length of clasper, setae prominent at distal end. Vinculum V-shaped, margins sclerotized, small ridge mesially along margin. Anellus broad curving straps, anal tube simple, large in diameter and lightly sclerotized ventrally. Aedeagus straight, ductus enters dorsally on proximal end. Distal end of aedeagus heavily scleritized dorsally and laterally, almost crenulated. Vesica straight, granulated and same diameter as aedeagus; shallow subbasal lobe. Valva length 2.78 mm, clasper 0.5 mm, clavus 0.13 mm; aedeagus 2.72 mm. Female genitalia with moderately sclerotized pelt. Tergites undifferentiated. Anal papillae with rounded tips, setose. Apophyses approximately equal in length, pointed. Ductus bursae short, about 0.13 X length of corpus bursae and with sclerotized, longitudinal, spiculate ridges. Corpus bursae very long, J-shaped with appendix bursae represented by a small ventrally projecting posterior bulge; corpus bursae with very lightly sclerotized, longitudinal, spiculate bands; no signum. Length: ductus bursae: 1.5 mm; corpus bursae: 12.0 mm; appendix bursae: 1.0 mm.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
03C887BEFFD7FF99FF461145799CFD1B.taxon	distribution	Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa talamanca is known only from the Talamanca Mountain Range of central Costa Rica where it has been collected at elevations above 3100 meters in oak dominated cloud forests. Two nights of collecting in August of 2007 on top of on Volcan Poas (65 km NW of the Talamanca Mountain Range) produced almost 2000 specimens of moths but no Megalographa talamanca, indicating that its distribution may be limited to the Talamanca Mountain Range.	en	Lafontaine, J. Donald, Sullivan, J. Bolling (2009): A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica. Insecta Mundi 2009 (77): 1-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5352574
