Systematic revision of the bagworm moth genus Clania Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Oiketicinae) with thirty-four new species

The genus Clania Walker, 1855 is revised through morphological examination and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The genus name Eumeta Walker, 1855 is recognised as a junior synonym of the genus Clania. Thirty-four new species are described herein, as follows: Clania adfimbria Beaver, sp. nov., Clania arenosa Beaver, sp. nov., Clania atra Beaver, sp. n, Clania bella Beaver, sp. nov., Clania cahaya Beaver, sp. nov., Clania dako Beaver, sp. nov., Clania garragi Beaver, sp. nov., Clania elegans Beaver, sp. nov., Clania erema Beaver, sp. nov., Clania gelap Beaver, sp. nov., Clania hitam Beaver, sp. nov., Clania inferna Beaver, sp. nov., Clania inopinata Beaver, sp. nov., Clania kadakkelan Beaver, sp. nov., Clania kecil Beaver, sp. nov., Clania kupas Beaver, sp. nov., Clania kalainan Beaver, sp. nov., Clania leucotegula Beaver, sp. nov., Clania leyteana Sobczyk, sp. nov., Clania malukuana Beaver, sp. nov., Clania matulis Beaver, sp. nov., Clania mavunda Beaver, sp. nov., Clania mindanaoensis Sobczyk, sp. nov., Clania myall Beaver, sp. nov., Clania nalawa Beaver, sp. nov., Clania nebula Beaver, sp. nov., Clania obscura Beaver, sp. nov., Clania picta Beaver, sp. nov., Clania polagaris Beaver, sp. nov., Clania pluto Beaver, sp. nov., Clania pulverulenta Beaver, sp. nov., Clania umbra Beaver, sp. nov., Clania vaga Beaver, sp. nov., and Clania yalata Beaver, sp. nov.. A further twenty-three nomenclatural changes are proposed concerning the genus Clania and the constituent species, for four separate judgements: 1), the recognition of the genus Eumeta as a subjective junior synonym of Clania, 2), a revision of valid species previously considered as synonyms of Clania variegata (Snellen); 3), the placement of four Australian species previously unassigned to genera within family Psychidae, and, 4), examination of type specimens of Australian and Oceanian Psychidae, leading to identification of further misplaced species. In order of these judgements, these changes are: 1), Clania cervina (Druce, [1888]) comb. nov., Clania cramerii (Westwood, 1854) comb. rest., Clania fenestrella (Sobczyk, 2020) comb. nov., Clania hardenbergi (Bourgogne, 1955) comb. nov., Clania javana (Heylaerts, 1885) comb. nov., Clania layardii (Moore, 1883) comb. nov., Clania meraukensis (Sobczyk, 2020) comb. nov. Clania mercieri (Bourgogne, 1966) comb. nov., Clania minuscula (Butler, 1881) comb. rest., Clania rotunda (Bourgogne, 1965) comb. nov., Clania rougeoti (Bourgogne, 1955) comb. nov., Clania strandi (Bourgogne, 1955) comb. nov., Clania timorensis (Sobczyk, 2020) comb. nov., Clania variegata (Snellen, 1879), comb. rest.; 2), Clania javanica (Swinhoe, 1892) comb. nov. et stat. rev., Clania maxima (Butler, 1882) comb. nov. et stat. rev., Clania wallacei (Swinhoe, 1892) comb. nov. et stat. rev.; 3), Clania hemitricha Meyrick & Lower, 1907 comb. rest., Clania persimilis Turner, 1947 comb. rest., Clania albifrons (Swinhoe, 1892) comb. nov., Clania sciogramma Turner, 1914 stat. rev.; and 4), Clania papuana (Sobczyk, 2020) comb. nov., and Clania hyalina (Turner, 1947) comb. nov.. We utilise the 13 protein-coding regions of the mitochondrial genome in conjunction with traditional morphological methods to understand the species diversity and systematics within this genus. Since the last century, only two Clania species were recognised as present in Australia, however, our analysis revises this list to twenty-two species. This new systematic arrangement of Clania recognises 60 species in a widespread genus that is broadly Afrotropical, Asian, and Australasian in distribution. Australia and New Guinea are now recognised as a centre of diversity for this genus.