Advances in Geometroidea phylogeny, with characterization of a new family based on Pseudobiston pinratanai (Lepidoptera, Glossata)

Since its discovery and description, the oriental moth Pseudobiston pinratanai Inoue, 1994, could not be placed in any of the recognized families of Macroheterocera (Lepidoptera). Here, we used molecular and morphological data to infer the phylogenetic position of the species. These analyses indicate that Pseudobiston pinratanai is closely related to Epicopeiidae. Our analyses of morphological characters further show that Pseudobiston pinratanai+Epicopeiidae share synapomorphies with Sematuridae, Uraniidae and Geometridae. These observations lead us to redefine the superfamily Geometroidea and discuss its internal phylogenetic relationships. The isolated position of Pseudobiston pinratanai within Geometroidea supports a family status (Pseudobistonidae fam. n.) that we formally establish in this work.