Beyond appearances: the genus Ernassa Walker, 1856 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Phaegopterina) and the description of eight new species.

The genus Ernassa Walker currently consists of five species: Ernassa justina (Stoll), E. sanguinolenta (Cramer), E. ignata Travassos, E. gabrielae Travassos, and E. cruenta (Rothschild). For about 40 years, the genus has been treated with these species. However, a large series of specimens and the study of the characters of the male genitalia, makes evident that the genus is more diverse. Eight new species are described: Ernassa inexplorata sp. nov., E. rufula sp. nov., E. persivalei sp. nov., E. tarisca sp. nov., E. skinnerorum sp. nov., E. harveyi sp. nov., E. markpacei sp. nov. and E. abscondita sp. nov. This work proposes that the species E. cruenta (Rothschild) does not have a common origin with the other species of the genus. At the moment it is treated as incertae sedis.