Discrimination of four Amphipyra pyramidea group species in Japan based on external appearance (Noctuidae, Amphipyrinae)

Abstract

The external differences among adults of four Japanese species in the Amphipyra pyramidea group were examined. As a result, no critical diagnostic features were found to distinguish the four species individually, and most external characters traditionally used for their identification were considered unreliable. However, we determined that Amphipyra horiei can be distinguished from the other three species by the darker coloration on the underside of the hindwings.