Athysanella

Baker, 1898

Athysanella is a of in the tribe Chiasmini, . The genus is and distinguished from the related genus Icaia by several derived characters of the male . Most are found in the New World. The genus contains subgenera including Athysanella (Athysanella) and Athysanella (Amphipyga), with subgenus A. (Diphipyga) restricted to three species retaining plesiomorphic genitalia characters.

Athysanella by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Athysanella: /æθɪˈsænɛlə/

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Identification

Athysanella can be distinguished from the related Icaia by derived characters of the male that unite most currently placed in the genus. Three species in subgenus A. (Diphipyga)—A. mexicana, A. nimbata, and A. secunda—retain plesiomorphic states for these characters. Athysanella rubicunda and A. triodana belong to subgenus Athysanella (Amphipyga). The genus was circumscribed based on a comparative study of 18 morphological characters across 14 species of Icaia and Athysanella.

Images

Habitat

Salt grass (Distichlis spicata) in Colorado's San Luis Valley have been documented for A. bidentata. Specific habitat associations for other are not well documented.

Distribution

New World distribution. Athysanella bidentata is a probable to Colorado's San Luis Valley.

Host Associations

Distichlis spicata - salt grass; documented for A. bidentata

Similar Taxa

IcaiaClosely related distinguished by phylogenetic analysis of 18 morphological characters; Athysanella is with derived male characters separating it from Icaia
Athysanella galeanaA. bidentata resembles this in external
Athysanella parcaA. bidentata resembles this in external

More Details

Taxonomic revision history

Subgenus A. (Diphipyga) was reinterpreted to contain only three (A. mexicana, A. nimbata, A. secunda) based on retention of plesiomorphic male characters. Athysanella rubicunda and A. triodana were reinstated in Athysanella (Amphipyga).