Clemensia
Packard, 1864
Species Guides
3- Clemensia albata(Little White Lichen Moth)
- Clemensia ochreata(Little Ochre Lichen Moth)
- Clemensia umbrata(Little Shaded Lichen Moth)
Clemensia is a of in the Erebidae, tribe Lithosiini, first described by Packard in 1864. The genus belongs to the Arctiinae (formerly treated as family ), a group commonly known as tiger moths and lichen moths. in this genus are distributed across the Americas, with documented occurrences in North America and the Neotropics including French Guiana. The genus is relatively well-represented in entomological collections and citizen science observations.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Clemensia: //klɛˈmɛn.si.ə//
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Identification
Members of Clemensia can be distinguished from other Lithosiini by genitalic characteristics, particularly in male specimens. The genus is placed in the tribe Lithosiini based on morphological features shared with lichen moths, though specific diagnostic external features for field identification are not well documented in available sources. Accurate identification to level generally requires examination of genitalia or reference to specialized taxonomic literature.
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Distribution
The has been documented in North America north of Mexico and in the Neotropics, including French Guiana. Records indicate a primarily New World distribution spanning temperate and tropical regions of the Americas.
Similar Taxa
- Other Lithosiini generaShare tribe-level characteristics including general lichen ; distinguished by genitalic features and subtle external morphological differences requiring expert examination
- Former Arctiidae genera now in ErebidaeClemensia was historically classified in before Arctiinae was moved to Erebidae; similar may have been treated under different concepts in older literature
More Details
Taxonomic History
The was originally described by Packard in 1864. The classification of Arctiinae has undergone significant revision, with the transferred from to Erebidae based on molecular and morphological studies (Lafontaine & Schmidt 2010). This reclassification affects how Clemensia is indexed in older versus modern literature.
Species Documentation
New continue to be described from the Neotropics, as evidenced by Gibeaux (1983) describing new Lithosiinae from French Guiana. This suggests the may be more diverse than currently catalogued, particularly in poorly surveyed tropical regions.