Exelis
Guenée, 1857
Species Guides
3- Exelis dicolus
- Exelis ophiurus
- Exelis pyrolaria(Fine-lined Gray)
Exelis is a of in the Geometridae, established by Achille Guenée in 1857. The genus contains four described , three of which were described in the mid-20th century and one (the type species) from 1857. It is classified within the Ennominae, a large and diverse group of geometer moths. The genus appears to be primarily Neotropical in distribution based on species descriptions.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Exelis: /ɛksˈɛlɪs/
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Identification
Distinguished from other Ennominae by the combination of wing pattern elements and genitalic structures described in original . Exelis pyrolaria, the type species, has distinctive orange-brown forewings with darker markings. Exelis dicolus and E. ophiurus, both described by Rindge in 1952, share similar wing shapes but differ in coloration and pattern details. Exelis mundaria exhibits more muted gray-brown coloration compared to .
Images
Distribution
Neotropical region; described from locations suggesting Central and South American distribution. Exelis mundaria described from Panama, E. dicolus and E. ophiurus from Peru, indicating Andean and Central American range.
More Details
Type species
Exelis pyrolaria Guenée, 1857 is the type of the .
Taxonomic history
Authorship sometimes cited as Guenée, [1858] in Catalogue of Life, though original description was in 1857.