On the Status of Aididae (Lepidoptera, Zygaenoidea)

Eight pairs of muscles were found in the genital complex of Aididae: the paired muscles m1 , m8(3) , m5(7) , m6(5) , m7(6) , m9 , m2(10) , the anal cone muscles m20 , and the unpaired internal aedeagus muscle m21 . This pattern is quite close to the ground plan of the Zygaenoidea but shows some reductions. The results of our study of the functional peculiarities of the male genital musculature in Aididae support downgrading this family to the rank of a subfamily within Limacodidae. A list of autapomorphies of the subfamily is given.