Sunira
Franclemont, 1950
Species Guides
3- Sunira bicolorago(Bicolored Sallow)
- Sunira decipiens(Shield-backed Cutworm Moth)
- Sunira verberata(Battered Sallow)
Sunira is a of in the Noctuidae, established by Franclemont in 1950. Its taxonomic status has been debated: Ronkay et al. (2001) treated it as a subgenus of Agrochola, while other authorities including Pitkin et al. (2005) and All-Leps (2009) maintain it as a valid genus. The genus contains three recognized : Sunira bicolorago, S. decipiens, and S. verberata. Sunira belongs to the tribe Xylenini within the Noctuinae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Sunira: /suˈniː.ra/
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Identification
When treated as a valid , Sunira can be distinguished from Agrochola by genitalic characters and subtle wing pattern differences, though these require expert examination. The genus is characterized by features of the male genitalia including the structure of the valve and . External alone is generally insufficient for reliable genus-level identification in this group.
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Distribution
Distribution records from GBIF indicate presence in Denmark (DK) and Norway (NO). Additional occurrence data from iNaturalist suggests broader North American and Palearctic distribution, though specific range boundaries for the as a whole remain incompletely documented.
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Taxonomic Controversy
The -level status of Sunira remains unsettled in the literature. Franclemont (1950) originally established the genus, but Ronkay et al. (2001) synonymized it under Agrochola as a subgenus. Subsequent catalogs including Butterflies and Moths of the World (2005) and All-Leps (2009) have retained Sunira as valid, reflecting ongoing disagreement among noctuid systematists.