Phaludia is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae, order Lepidoptera. The genus was established by William Schaus in 1901. Species within this genus are primarily distributed in the Neotropical region, with documented occurrences in South and Central America.
Taxonomic classification
| Rank | Taxon |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geometridae |
| Genus | Phaludia Schaus, 1901 |
Recognised species
The genus includes several described species, among which the following are frequently cited in taxonomic databases:
- Phaludia janeira Schaus, 1901 – reported from Brazil.
- Phaludia strictifascia (Warren, 1906) – recorded from various locations in northern South America.
- Additional species listed in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) databases, though full taxonomic details are limited in publicly available literature.
Distribution and habitat
Records from GBIF and related biodiversity portals show that Phaludia species occur in tropical forest habitats, often at low to mid elevations. Specimen collections have been reported from Brazil, French Guiana, and neighboring regions.
Research and references
- Schaus, W. (1901). Original description of the genus in Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 27: 242.
- Pitkin, B.; Jenkins, P. (2023). “Search results Family: Geometridae”. Butterflies and Moths of the World. Natural History Museum, London. DOI: 10.5519/s93616qw.
- Data repositories: GBIF (species Phaludia strictifascia), BOLD Systems (taxon ID 142640), Catalogue of Life, IRMNG, and the Animal Diversity Web provide taxonomic listings and occurrence records.
Notes
The genus Phaludia is relatively small and not extensively studied; many aspects of its biology, ecology, and life cycles remain undocumented in the scientific literature. Further field research and taxonomic revision may clarify species boundaries and distribution patterns.