Proxenus
Herrich-Schäffer, 1850
Proxenus is a of in the , Noctuinae. The genus was temporarily synonymized with Athetis by Poole in 1989 but was reinstated as a valid genus in 2010. in this genus are attracted to ultraviolet light and have been documented at moth- events in California.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Proxenus: /prɒkˈsiːnəs/
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Identification
Proxenus are distinguished from the related Athetis by genitalic and morphological characters that led to the genus being reinstated in 2010. Specific identification to species level often requires examination of .
Images
Distribution
Documented from California, USA, with records from -lighting events at the University of California, Davis. Distribution records also include Denmark (GBIF).
Seasonality
have been observed in July and August in California.
Behavior
are and attracted to ultraviolet light sources. They have been documented at blacklighting displays used for surveys.
Human Relevance
Documented in citizen science and museum outreach events, including Night at the Bohart Museum of .
Similar Taxa
- AthetisProxenus was historically included within Athetis by Poole in 1989 due to morphological similarities, but was reinstated as a separate in 2010 based on distinguishing characters.
More Details
Taxonomic History
The was synonymized with Athetis in 1989 but reinstated as valid in 2010, reflecting ongoing revisionary work in .
Documented Species
Proxenus mindara is one in the , tentatively identified at UC Davis Night events.