Meganola

Dyar, 1898

Species Guides

Meganola conspicua(conspicuous meganola moth)
Meganola dentata(toothed meganola moth)
Meganola fuscula
Meganola georgei
Meganola minor
Meganola minuscula(confused meganola)
Meganola phylla(Coastal Plain Meganola Moth)
Meganola sp-one
Meganola spodia(Ashy Meganola Moth)

Meganola is a of in the Nolidae, Nolinae, erected by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1898. The genus is distributed across multiple biogeographic regions including the Palearctic (Europe, Korea), Afrotropical (Ivory Coast, Zambia, Uganda), and Nearctic (Vermont, USA). It contains at least 35 in West Africa alone, with taxonomic revisions ongoing. Some authorities consider Meganola a synonym of Roeselia.

Meganola spodia by (c) Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Meganola by (c) dhfischer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dhfischer. Used under a CC-BY license.

Meganola minuscula by no rights reserved, uploaded by Ken Kneidel. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Meganola: //ˌmɛɡəˈnoʊlə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Meganola are distinguished from related noline by combinations of external morphological characters and male genitalia structure. Korean species can be identified using keys based on external and male genitalia. Genitalia examination is required for reliable species-level identification in this .

Images

Distribution

Palearctic: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Korea; Afrotropical: Ivory Coast and adjacent West African areas, Zambia, Uganda; Nearctic: Vermont, USA. The shows broad intercontinental distribution across temperate and tropical regions.

Similar Taxa

RoeseliaSometimes considered a synonym of Meganola; taxonomic relationship remains unresolved in literature
EzishnolaOriental to which Meganola cretacea was transferred based on genitalia , indicating close relationship and potential confusion in identification

More Details

Taxonomic instability

The exhibits significant taxonomic instability with 23 new synonymies established in a 2020 revision of West African alone. Meganola cretacea was transferred to Ezishnola in 2020, demonstrating that generic boundaries remain under revision.

Species diversity

At least 35 are recorded from Ivory Coast and adjacent areas, with 12 species documented from Korea and new species continuing to be described (e.g., M. parki from Korea, M. smithi, M. taiana, M. subchionea, M. cinereoparva, M. hackeri from West Africa).

Genomic resources

The of Meganola albula (Kent black arches) has been sequenced and published, providing genomic resources for this .