A taxonomic study of 32 species (including 4 new species)belonging to the so-called "black and white" Diaphania is presented. The genus Diaphania and all the species treated are redescribed, except D. antillia Munroe. Diaphania is divided into the "hyalinata", "fumosalis" and "auricollis" species-groups; keys are given for these groups and for the species studied. / Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for: Glyphodes columbiana Hampson (male lectotype and three males paralectotypes); Glyphodes eurytornalis Hampson (male lectotype and four males paralectotypes); Glyphodes holophaealis Hampson (male lectotype and seven males paralectotypes); Glyphodes magdalenae Hampson (male lectotype and two males paralectotypes); and Glyphodes oeditornalis (male lectotype). The following new synonymies are presented: Eudioptis aclista Meyrick, Glyphodes semibrunnea Druce = Diaphania argealis (Walker); Glyphodes eurytornalis Hampson = Diaphania lucidalis (Hubner); Glyphodes decapitalis Dognin = Diaphania mirabilis (Druce); Glyphodes holophaealis Hampson = Diaphania indica (Saunders); and Glyphodes niveocilia Hampson = Diaphania translucidalis (Guenee). / Some morphological terms are clarified and renamed or named for the first time: anal tuft; male coremata (= parategumen sclerites in this study); and female coremata (= gynecoremata in this study). A new organ (anepisternal scale organ) associated with possible pheromone production and/or distribution is described. / The monophyly of Diaphania is based in the presence of spatulate scales in anal tuft in both sexes; labial palp with scaling of second segment broad, almost as large as the eye; and the presence of gynecoremata. The genus Omiodes is considered the possible sister-group of Diaphania on the basis of a brief phylogenetic analysis of 21 genera which could be associated with Diaphania. / All species studied are found in tropical and subtropical America, except D. indica (Saunders) which has a pantropical distribution. Host plants for the few species for which information is available mostly belong to the family Cucurbitaceae.

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