Patterns of endemism of the Chinese Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

Chinese Larentiinae is exceptionally rich in species since it spans the Palearctic realm and the Oriental realm, comprising 715 species belonging to 130 genera. Among them, nearly half species are endemic. This taxon is considered an ideal object for the study of endemic patterns. In this study, parsimony analysis of endemicity was used to delineate areas of endemisms (AOEs), and track compatibility analysis (TCA) was used to perform the TCA. Eight AOEs were supported. Except for five AOEs around the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (QTP), two AOEs from northern China and Taiwan islands were found. Twenty-two generalized tracks were obtained from the combination of the track analysis and the AOEs. The uplift of the QTP was assumed to greatly influence these endemic patterns, presented an appearance of highly centralized endemism and diversity in the eastern and southern edges of the QTP. And the AOE of Mt. Hengduan was considered as a major center of development through recent geological history, where strong evolutionary radiation might have taken place, resulting in the migration routes described by the generalized tracks from this center to various regions in various directions.

Estimating hybridization as a consequence of climatic fluctuations: A case study of two geometridae species.

In some cases, the phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the nuclear DNA (ncDNA) are discordant. There are three major causes of the discordance within insects, including hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and infection by Wolbachia. In this study, we used a combination of multilocus and coalescent analyses to explore these processes occurred during the evolutionary history of Limbatochlamys rosthorni Rothschild, 1894 and Limbatochlamys pararosthorni Han and Xue, 2005. The ncDNA phylogenetic tree supported two reciprocally monophyletic species, whereas the mtDNA results failed to reveal such a structure and revealed an extensive level of admixture between two species. Because of very low Wolbachia infection rates (<20%), we firstly excluded this reason for the discordance. The fixed nucleotide differences and large genetic distances (1.5-2.5%) at the ncDNA genes suggested that the lineage sorting process between these two species is nearly complete and two species have experienced a prolonged period of independent evolution. Thus, we secondly excluded ILS. Sharing haplotypes, mtDNA gene flow occurring and the transitional samples with morphological features supported hybridization. The distribution contraction during glaciations and postglacial distribution expansion might have facilitated hybridization. Taken together, our study indicates that the current genetic structure of L. rosthorni and L. pararosthorni is the results of contraction and fragmentation into separated refugia during glaciations, followed by postglacial expansion and admixture.

A mitochondrial genome phylogeny of owlet moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), and examination of the utility of mitochondrial genomes for lepidopteran phylogenetics.

A phylogenetic hypothesis for the lepidopteran superfamily Noctuoidea was inferred based on the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of 12 species (six newly sequenced). The monophyly of each noctuoid family in the latest classification was well supported. Novel and robust relationships were recovered at the family level, in contrast to previous analyses using nuclear genes. Erebidae was recovered as sister to (Nolidae+(Euteliidae+Noctuidae)), while Notodontidae was sister to all these taxa (the putatively basalmost lineage Oenosandridae was not included). In order to improve phylogenetic resolution using mt genomes, various analytical approaches were tested: Bayesian inference (BI) vs. maximum likelihood (ML), excluding vs. including RNA genes (rRNA or tRNA), and Gblocks treatment. The evolutionary signal within mt genomes had low sensitivity to analytical changes. Inference methods had the most significant influence. Inclusion of tRNAs positively increased the congruence of topologies, while inclusion of rRNAs resulted in a range of phylogenetic relationships varying depending on other analytical factors. The two Gblocks parameter settings had opposite effects on nodal support between the two inference methods. The relaxed parameter (GBRA) resulted in higher support values in BI analyses, while the strict parameter (GBDH) resulted in higher support values in ML analyses.

A review of Psyra Walker, 1860 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China, with description of one new species.

The genus Psyra Walker, 1860 in China is reviewed. Thirteen species are recognized, of which, P. breviprotrusa sp. nov. is described as new to science, and P. moderata Inoue, 1982, P. gracilis Yazaki, 1992 and P. boarmiata (Graeser, 1892) are recorded for the first time from China. P. cuneata szetschwana Wehrli, 1953 and P. cuneata dsagara Wehrli, 1953 are upgraded to specific level, i.e. P. szetschwana stat. nov. and P. dsagara stat. nov., and a lectotype is designated for P. dsagara. One new synonym is established: P. szetschwana Wehrli, 1953 = P. cuneata lidjangica Wehrli, 1953 syn. nov. The diagnoses for all species are given. Illustrations of external features and genitalia are presented.

Review of the Idaeaproximaria complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Sterrhinae) with descriptions of four new species.

The Idaeaproximaria complex is reviewed and four new species are described from China: Idaearectangularis Cheng & Han, sp. nov. from Guangxi and Fujian provinces, Idaearectispina Cheng & Han, sp. nov. from Hunan province, Idaeasetosa Xue & Han, sp. nov. from Hainan province, and Idaealinearis Xue & Han, sp. nov. from Hubei and Shaanxi provinces. Illustrations of adults and genitalia of the new species and known species are presented, and the variations in the form of the aedeagus of Idaeaproximaria are discussed.

Four new species of Ditrigona Moore (Lepidoptera, Drepanidae) in China and an annotated catalogue.

The Chinese species of the genus Ditrigona Moore, 1888 are reviewed and an annotated catalogue is provided. Four new species are described from China: Ditrigonasinespina Jiang & Han, sp. nov., Ditrigonaparva Jiang & Han, sp. nov., Ditrigonaconcava Guo & Han, sp. nov., and Ditrigonafusca Guo & Han, sp. nov. Derocacrystalla Chu & Wang, 1987 and Auzatellapentesticha Chu & Wang, 1987 are newly combined into, respectively, the derocina and quinaria species groups of Ditrigona. Ditrigonadiana Wilkinson is newly recorded in China. This results in 43 species of Ditrigona for the fauna of China. Illustrations of habitus and genitalia of the new species and most known species are presented.

Shennongjia-Wushan Mountains-One cryptic glacial refugium introduced by the phylogeographical study of the Geometridae moth Ourapteryx szechuana Wehrli.

The origin and evolution of biodiversity in the Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains, located in central China, are little known. In this study, we used Ourapteryx szechuana, which is widely distributed in China and northern Nepal, to explore whether these mountains acted as glacial refugia during climate oscillations of the Quaternary. In total, 192 samples of O. szechuana were collected throughout much of the distribution range. Phylogenetic analysis, molecular dating, demographic history reconstructions, and MAXENT were used to investigate the evolutionary history and differentiation mechanisms and predict the potential species distributions during four different periods. The phylogenetic tree and the star-like median-joining network strongly supported two reciprocally monophyletic and allopatric lineages. Lineage I was restricted to the Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains. The divergence time of O. szechuana from its sister species O. thibetaria was approximately 1.94 Ma. The differentiation processes of the two intraspecific lineages occurred at approximately 0.47 Ma. The demographic history reconstruction and the ecological niche model suggested that Lineage II experienced an expansion after the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum), whereas Lineage I did not experience any expansion. Our results suggested the Naynayxungla glaciation promoted the divergence of the two lineages by restricting them to different refugia. The valleys of the Shennongjia-Wushan Mountains may have kept stable and warm (thus ice-free) environments during Quaternary glaciations, allowing this region to act as a glacial refugia. Our studies show that the Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains are likely to be important but little studied glacial refugia for the insect and thus worthy of more attention.

Taxonomic composition and monophyly of the genus Magnificus (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae).

The genus Magnificus Yan, 2000 was originally established to include M. jiuzhiensis Yan, 2000 and M. zhiduoensis Yan, 2000. Here we also include the species M. bouvieri (Oberthür, 1913) comb. n., M. dirschi (Bang-Haas, 1939) comb. n., M. miniatus (Chu Wang, 1985a) comb. n., M. regius (Staudinger, 1896) comb. n., and M. roseus (Oberthür, 1911) comb. n. Monophyly of Magnificus is supported by the shared presence of a unique shape of the tergosternal sclerite in the anterio-abdominal region and pseudoteguminal arm in the male genitalia. We also provide evidence for the inclusion of Magnificus and the northern Eurasian genera Hepialus Fabricius, Pharmacis Hübner, Triodia Hübner and Zenophassus Tindale as members of a larger monophyletic group supported by the shared presence in the male genitalia of a deep U-shaped medial notch in the posterior margin of the saccus and an expanded triangular flange at the lateral corners of the notch. The reciprocally allopatric distribution of Magnificus and its probable sister group is consistent with each originating locally by vicariance over different parts of a widespread ancestral range. This divergence may be the result of tectonic uplift in central Asia.

A review of Timandra Duponchel, 1829 from China, with description of seven new species (Lepidoptera, Geometridae).

The Chinese species of the genus Timandra Duponchel, 1829 are reviewed: 12 known species are reported. Seven new species are described from China, increasing the total number of Timandra species to 28: T.distorta sp. n., T.adunca sp. n., T.quadrata sp. n., T.accumulata sp. n., T.viminea sp. n., T.robusta sp. n. and T.stueningi sp. n. Diagnoses for all 19 Chinese species are provided, with illustrations of external features and genitalia.

Description of two new species of Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823 from China (Lepidoptera, Geometridae).

Two new species of the genus Rhodostrophia Hübner, 1823, Rhodostrophia reisseri sp. nov. and Rhodostrophia stueningi sp. nov. are described from China. The Chinese species of Rhodostrophia are reviewed. Diagnoses for all discussed Chinese species are provided.

A review of Organopoda Hampson, 1893 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from China, with description of three new species.

The Chinese species of the genus Organopoda Hampson, 1893 are reviewed: seven species are reported from China. Three new species, O. acutula sp. nov., O. deltaformis sp. nov. and O. megiste sp. nov. are described. Diagnostic characters of all Chinese species are provided. External features and genitalia are depicted.

A review of Problepsis Lederer, 1853 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from China, with description of two new species.

The Chinese species of the genus Problepsis Lederer, 1853 are reviewed: 18 species are reported from China. Two new species, P. stueningi sp. nov. and P. batangnensis sp. nov. are described. One new combination is established: Problepsis transvehens (Prout, 1918) comb. nov. Two new synonyms are established: P. conjunctiva conjunctiva Warren, 1893 (= P. conjunctiva subjunctiva Prout, 1917 syn. n.), Problepsis discophora Fixsen, 1887 (= P. changmei Yang, 1978 syn. n.). Two species, P. plagiata (Butler, 1881) and P. apollinaria (Guenée, 1858), and one subspecies, P. discophora kardakoffi Prout, 1938, are newly recorded for China. Diagnoses for all discussed Chinese species are provided. External features and genitalia are depicted.

One new species and one new record for the genus Ninodes Warren from China (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae).

A new species of the genus Ninodes Warren, N. quadratussp. n., is described from China and compared with related species, based on numerous museum specimens. N. albarius Beljaev & Park, 1998, described from Korea, is newly recorded for China. Illustrations of external features and genitalia for each species of Ninodes are presented.

Revision of the genus Metaterpna Yazaki, 1992 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Geometrinae), with description of a new species from China.

The genus Metaterpna is revised. The two species known, M. differens (Warren, 1909) and M. thyatiraria (Oberthür, 1913), are redescribed, with emphasis on the considerable variability of M. thyatiraria, and the status of the related type specimen was discussed. In addition, one new species, M. batangensis sp. nov., is described from Batang and Daocheng, Sichuan province, and Lijiang, Yunnan province, southwestern China. M. thyatiraria and M. batangensis show clear distance by DNA barcode sequences. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Endoclita signifer (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae).

The ghost moth Endoclita signifer is a new wood-boring pest of eucalyptus in south of China. It infests dozens of native plant species, and causes severe damage to the plantations of exotic eucalyptus. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of E. signifer, which has the typical 37 mitochondrial genes of insects. Contrary to most of the Lepidoptera, the E. signifer mitogenome has the putative ancestral insect gene order. Atypical start codon (TTG) and incomplete stop codon (one T-nucleotide) were found for COX2. The E. signifer control region is 389 bp without tandem repeats, and two (TA)n stretches were observed.

A review of Cyclidiinae from China (Lepidoptera, Drepanidae).

The subfamily Cyclidiinae from China is reviewed: two genera and seven species are reported from China. One new subspecies, Cyclidia fractifasciata indistincta subsp. n., is described. Two new synonyms are established: Cyclidia substigmaria (Hübner, 1831) (= Cyclidia substigmaria brunna Chu & Wang, 1987, syn. n. = Cyclidia tetraspota Chu & Wang, 1987, syn. n.). One misidentification in Chu & Wang (1987) is corrected. Identification keys and diagnoses for all discussed Chinese species are provided. External features and genitalia are depicted. In addition, results of DNA barcoding for five taxa of Cyclidia are briefly discussed.

An updated checklist of Thyatirinae (Lepidoptera, Drepanidae) from China, with descriptions of one new species.

A total of three tribes, 38 genera and 148 species of Thyatirinae from China are listed together with one dubious record. Of these, one new species, Stenopsestis bruna sp. nov., is described. Macrothyatira danieli Werny, 1966, stat. rev., is restored to specific rank. Cymatophora subampliata Houlbert, 1921, is downgraded to subspecific rank as Tethea (Tethea) albicostata subampliata (Houlbert, 1921), stat. nov. Two genera, four species and three subspecies are recorded for the first time from China (Chiropsestis Laszlo, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2001, Hiroshia Laszlo, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2001, Chiropsestis rubrocinerea Laszlo, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2001, Hiroshia albinigra Laszlo, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2001, Parapsestis hausmanni Laszlo, Ronkay, Ronkay & Witt, 2007, Spica luteola Swinhoe, 1889, Parapsestis cinerea pacifica Laszlo, Ronkay, Ronkay & Witt, 2007, Tethea (Saronaga) consimilis aurisigna Bryk, 1943, Nothoploca nigripunctata fansipana Laszlo, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2001). Ten misidentifications in Zhao (2004) are corrected. Illustrations of external features and genitalia of the new taxa and new records are presented.

A review of Luxiaria Walker and its allied genus Calletaera Warren (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China.

The genus Luxiaria Walker and its allied genus Calletaera Warren in China, including 16 species in all, are reviewed. Five new species are described: C. obvia sp. nov., C. acuticornuta sp. nov., C. rotundicornuta sp. nov., C. dentata sp. nov., C. trigonoprocessus sp. nov. The species L. acutaria (Snellen, 1877) and L. tephrosaria (Moore, 1868) are newly recorded for China. Two new combinations are established: C. obliquata (Moore, 1888) comb. nov. and C. consimilaria (Leech, 1897) comb. nov. Four new synonyms are established: Eutoea Walker, 1860 (= Bithiodes Warren, 1894 syn. nov.); Calletaera Warren, 1895 (=Bithiodes Warren, 1899 syn. nov.), based on the fixation of nominal type Acidalia inexactata Walker, 1861, for the genus name Bithiodes Warren, 1894; L. emphatica Prout, 1925 (= L. costinota Inoue, 1978 syn. nov.); C. subexpressa (Walker, 1861) (= C. digrammata Wehrli, 1925 syn. nov.). Diagnoses for all Chinese species are provided. Illustrations of external features and genitalia are presented. 

A new species of the genus Genusa (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China.

Genusa Walker, 1855, a genus currently included in the Hypochrosini, was originally established in the Lymantriidae, and transferred to the Geometridae by Hampson (1895), who designated G. bigutta Walker, 1855 as the type species, and listed G. destituta Walker, 1865, originally described from Cambodia, as a synonym of G. bigutta, though without any explanation. The only literature which compared destituta with bigutta is Swinhoe (1900), where he stated that destituta is hardly separable from G. bigutta.