Abstract

The skeleton and musculature of the meso- and metathorax as well as of the male genitalia of Synemon planaWalker (Castniidae) and Brachodes appendiculata (Esper) (Brachodidae) are described, illustrated and compared with corresponding structures earlier described from the Cossidae, Choreutidae, Zygaenidae, Limacodidae and Sesiidae. Cladistic analyses of the muscle data, both separately and in combination with those of other characters, were performed to reveal relationships among these families. Our findings supported the monophyly of a group composed of three families (Brachodidae, Sesiidae and Castniidae) constituting the superfamily Sesioidea sensu Minet, and hence indicated that the Choreutidae are not closely related to the Sesioidea. The character set comprised no synapomorphies of the Limacodidae and Zygaenidae, currently united in the superfamily Zygaenoidea sensu Minet. A sister-group relationship between the Cossoidea and most if not all other superfamilies of Apoditrysia is suggested.