Scientific Note: First record of Sematuridae (Lepidoptera: Geometroidea) moths in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, north of the São Francisco river, and description of the male genitalia of Coronidia orithea (Cramer, [1780])

Abstract

Known as corkscrew moths, the family Sematuridae is a small group of lepidopterans within the superfamily Geometroidea, predominantly distributed in the Neotropical region and comprising about 40 species across six genera, with seven species from three genera known to occur in Brazil. They are moderate to large in size, visually similar to the Uraniidae family, which has historically led to taxonomic confusion. Despite their distinctive appearance, little is known about their biology, especially in northeastern Brazil. This study presents the first documented collection of Coronidia orithea (Cramer, [1780]) in Alagoas and the Northeastern Atlantic Forest, making it the first collection of that family in Brazil, north of São Francisco River. Significantly, this work includes the first description and illustration of the male genitalia of Coronidia, advancing anatomical knowledge of the group.