Analysis of insect distribution in the Northern Hemisphere by the example of the subfamily Arctiinae (Lepidoptera,Arctiidae). 1. Genus level

An attempt is made to apply cluster analysis to comparison of local faunas in the Northern Hemisphere at the genus level by the example of the subfamily Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae). A total of 200 North African, Eurasian (to New Guinea inclusive), and North American (north of the United Mexican States) local faunas have been considered. It is found that the arctic fauna is clearly detached from the Palearctic and Nearctic faunas, being closer to the former. Therefore, it is not reasonable to recognize the united European-Canadian subprovince of the boreal province according to the tiger moth faunas. The Palearctic tiger moth fauna is characterized by relatively smooth variations within the boreal, subboreal, and western subtropical belts. The boundary between the Palearctic and the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) provinces should be drawn north of the Yangtze catchment area. The most dramatic fauna change at the genus level takes place between North and Northeast China. It is reasonable to recognize a broad transition area between the two zoogeographic provinces in Eastern Asia. On the grounds of the nonuniform tiger moth fauna, the South Chinese-East Himalayan subprovince should be assigned to the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) province rather than the Palearctic, as was repeatedly proposed. The Southwest-Asian fauna (Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran) is transitional between the Palearctic, African, and Oriental ones. Many African genera reach the west and south of the Arabian Peninsula, whereas Oriental and Paleotropical genera reach southern Iran.