Calidota
Dyar, 1901
Calidota is a of in the Erebidae, erected by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1901. The genus belongs to the arctiine group within the Arctiinae. It currently includes eight recognized distributed across the Neotropical region, with records from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The species is Calidota phryganoides (Walker, 1855). Two species have been moved to other genera.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Calidota: //ˌkæ.lɪˈdoʊ.tə//
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Distribution
Neotropical region, including the Bahamas, Caribbean islands, Central America, and South America. Specific country records based on distributions include Mexico, Guatemala, and other Central and South localities.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Calidota was originally described in the , which has since been reclassified as the Arctiinae within Erebidae following molecular phylogenetic studies. The was established by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr., a prominent known for his work on .
Species Diversity
The contains eight currently recognized : C. bahamensis, C. clarcana, C. divina, C. guzmani, C. lubeckei, C. obscurata, C. paulina, and C. phryganoides. Calidota strigosa (formerly placed here) is now recognized as a valid species within the genus. Two former species, C. cubensis and C. hadesia, have been reassigned to other genera.
Etymology
The name Calidota is derived from Greek roots, with 'cali-' suggesting beauty and '-dota' referring to ornamentation, likely alluding to the patterned or colorful appearance typical of many arctiine .