Petalumaria Buckett and Bauer

Petaluma Buckett and Bauer, 1964, Jour. Research Lep., 3: 193.
Type species: Petaluma californica Buckett and Bauer, 1964. Original designation.
NOTE A junior homonym of Petaluma Hulst 1888, Pyralidae. The objective replacement name is Petalumaria Buckett and Bauer [1968].

Petalumaria Buckett and Bauer, [1968] 1967, Jour. Research Lep., 6: 52.
Type species: Petaluma californica Buckett and Bauer, 1964. Original designation for Petaluma Buckett and Bauer 1964.
NOTE Proposed as an objective replacement name for Petaluma Buckett and Bauer 1964, a junior homonym of Petaluma Hulst 1888.

Petalumaria is without a doubt the most peculiar genus of the Nocloini. The genus contains the single species Petalumaria californica. The prothoracic tibia and tarsal segments are fore-shortened as in all members of the Nocloini. However,

1) Petalumaria is immediately separable from all other Nocloini by the combination of the pectinate male antennae (the female antennae are unknown).

2) All of the genera of the Nocloini except Petalumaria occur in the American southwest or Mexico. Petalumaria, in contrast, occurs in middle to northern California, well outside the range of any other genus or species in the tribe.

3) The male vesica is elongate with no distinct groups of spines.

4) There is a diffuse corona of spines at the apex of the male valve. The spines in other genera are irregularly scattered and not arranged in a corona-like row.

5) The eighth male abdominal tergum consists of two rectangular lateral bars.

6) The bars are parallel and are not joined at the base of the tergum. The eighth tergum in other genera is more v-shaped with the two lateral components fused at the base and with two basal cephalad pointing projections.

This species is very rare in collections and the female has not yet been collected. The phylogenetic position of this genus is unknown.