Nola (Mecothrix), Hacker, 2012

László, Gyula M. & Vetina, Alvaro A., 2019, Contribution to the knowledge of the Nolini of the Maputo Special Reserve in South Mozambique with description of two new species and several taxonomic updates (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae), Zootaxa 4571 (2), pp. 225-246 : 229

Genus Mecothrix Hacker, 2012 stat. n.

Mecothrix Hacker, 2012 , Esperiana 17: 145. Type species: Nola poliophasma Fletcher, 1958 .

Taxonomic notes. The genus Nola Leach, 1815 has several hundreds of species distributed worldwide. The most important diagnostic characters of the genus is the deeply cleft bilobate valva, and the lacking of uncus, while the also species rich African taxon Mecothrix Hacker, 2012 has completely different valval structure (broad, uncleft or just slightly concave apically, weakly sclerotized with membraneous costal margin), a special feature of the pair of dense, extraordinarily long, easily removeable androconial hair-tufts arising from a pocket-like lateral extension of vinculum, in addition the very unique single, large, needle- or robust thorn-like cornutus of the vesica. In the female genitalia morphology, species of the genus Nola display quite large diversity but in general have longer and predominantly membraneous ductus bursae only with shorter sections of heavier sclerotization or dilation, whereas the females of Mecothrix have significantly stronger and, in most cases much longer sclerotization of ductus bursae, in addition the pair of elongate, finger-, or claw-like signum bursae of Mecothrix species is also characteristic for the genus. As the extent of the differences in the ground plan of the genital morphology between Nola Leach, 1815 and the recently established subgenus Mecothrix Hacker, 2012 is so substantial, distinguishing Mecothrix as a distinct genus is fully justified.