A new species of the genus Sovia (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from Qinling-Daba Mountains of China.

In this paper, a new species Sovia lii spec. nov. is described from Qinling-Daba Mountains in S. Gansu province and S. Shaanxi province, W. China. Variability of wing pattern, differences with its similar congeners and some biological information of this new taxon are introduced. External variability of Sovia lucasii, which is discovered from Shaanxi for the first time and is sympatric with the new species there, is illustrated and discussed. A brief analysis of the distributional pattern of the genus Sovia is provided. A key to the genus is given.

Some taxonomic notes on Capila translucida (Leech, 1894) and C. hainana Crowley, 1900 (Hesperiidae, Pyrginae).

Based on a comparison of the 658 bp COI gene sequence and adult morphology, the intraspecific variability of Capila translucida (Leech, 1894) is clarified, and both C. hainana hainana Crowley, 1900 syn. n. and C. hainana sinorientalis Huang & Ding, 1994 syn. n., of which the males are still unknown so far, are considered as junior subjective synonyms of C. translucida. The taxonomic history of the involved taxa is reviewed. Adults and genitalia of both sexes of C. translucida are illustrated.

Molecular data and morphological characters clarify the taxonomic status of Pintara heringi pieridoides (Liu & Gu, 1994) (Hesperiidae, Pyrginae).

We found Albiphasma heringi (Mell, 1922) and A. pieridoides (Liu & Gu, 1994) to be conspecific by the 658 bp COI gene sequences and male genitalia characters. Considering the distinguishable wing patterns and allopatric distribution of the two taxa, we treat pieridoides as a subspecies of heringi. Therefore, the genus Albiphasma Huang, Chiba, Wang and Fan, 2016, which was established for heringi and pieridoides, becomes monotypic, and in light of morphological similarities and close genetic distance between heringi and Pintara bowringi (Joicey & Talbot, 1921), we propose its synonymy with Pintara Evans, 1932. The adults and male genitalia of both P. heringi heringi (Mell, 1922) and P. heringi pieridoides (Liu & Gu, 1994) are illustrated.

Notes on Halpe paupera Devyatkin, 2002 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae).

A series of specimens with some differences in wing patterns and male genitalia from different localities is recognized as Halpe paupera Devyatkin, 2002 by comparing the COI gene sequences. The morphological variability in male is discussed and illustrated. The intraspecific variation of the female of H. paupera walthewi Devyatkin, 2002 from the type locality is elucidated, and hence this subspecies is considered a synonym of H. paupera paupera. A distribution map and some bionomic information of the species are provided.

A discussion on the relationship of Capila omeia (Leech, 1894) and C. pseudomeia Fan & Wang, 2004 syn. n. (Hesperiidae, Pyrginae).

Intraspecific variability of Capila omeia (Leech, 1894) from Chongqing is investigated based upon the comparison of the 658 bp COI gene sequences and adult morphology. The morphological characters used for distinguishing C. pseudomeia Fan & Wang, 2004 from C. omeia are proved to be in the range of individual variation of the latter. Therefore, C. pseudomeia syn. n. is treated as a junior subjective synonym of C. omeia. Adults and genitalia of both sexes of C. omeia are illustrated. A distribution map of the species is provided as well.

Molecular and morphological evidences confirm the statuses of Ancistroides othonias (Hewitson, 1878) and the subspecies of A. nigrita (Latreille, [1824]), sensu Evans 1949 (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae).

Based upon analyses of the COI gene sequences and morphological characters, Ancistroides othonias (Hewitson, 1878) is proved to be a separate species rather than a female form of A. armatus (H. Druce, 1873) or a subspecies of A. nigrita (Latreille, [1824]), and Tagiades maura Snellen, 1886 is confirmed as its junior synonym. A. fumatus (Mabille, 1876) is restored to a full species from a subspecies of A. nigrita. Genitalia of A. othonias, A. nigrita, A. fumatus, A. armatus and A. longicornis are illustrated and described. Some taxonomic notes and discussion are provided.

Description of a new subspecies of Dodona dipoea Hewitson, [1866] (Lycaenidae: Riodininae) from S.W. Chongqing, China.

Dodona dipoea pseudokaterina subsp. nov. is described from southwestern Chongqing, China. The wing patterns of the type specimens are similar to those of D. katerina Monastyrskii Devyatkin, 2000, but the genitalic characters of both sexes show that they belong to D. dipoea Hewitson, [1866]. Adults and genitalia of both sexes of the new subspecies, and adults of the nominate subspecies are illustrated.

Morphological and molecular characters reveal the status of Pedesta rubella (Devyatkin, 1996) stat. n. and P. similissima (Devyatkin, 2002) syn. n. (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae).

To clarify the relationships of Pedesta submacula (Leech, 1890), P. submacula rubella (Devyatkin, 1996) and P. similissima (Devyatkin, 2002), specimens from various localities in China and Vietnam, including the type materials of P. submacula rubella and P. similissima were examined. A neighbor-joining (NJ) tree was also reconstructed based upon partial COI sequences of 24 ingroup specimens and 4 outgroup species. The result shows that P. similissima is a synonym of P. submacula, and P. submacula rubella belongs to a separate species. The mean Kimura-2-Parameter genetic distance between P. submacula and P. rubella stat. n. is 4.4%. Wing patterns and genitalic structures of these taxa are illustrated and compared. A distribution map of both species is provided.

Hasora mavis Evans, 1934 syn. n. is confirmed to be the female of H. leucospila leucospila (Mabille, 1891) (Hesperiidae, Coeliadinae) by DNA barcoding.

Based upon the comparison of the 649 bp COI gene sequences, Hasora mavis Evans, 1934 is proved to be the female of a sexually dimorphic species, H. leucospila leucospila (Mabille, 1891), and thus treated as a junior subjective synonym of the latter.

A new species of the genus Zographetus Watson, 1893 from China (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae).

Zographetus rienki sp. nov. is described from southern China based upon two males and one female which are associated by COI barcode. The male of this new species is distinguishable by the following combination of external characters: on the ventral side of the forewing, there is a black hair tuft at basal dorsum, cubitus and basal Cu2 are swollen, and the origin of vein Cu2 is much nearer to wing base than to vein Cu1; both sides of the hindwing are unmarked. The structure of male genitalia also differs from those of all the known congeneric species. Adults and genitalia of the type specimens are illustrated. A key to species of the genus is provided based upon previous works.

Descriptions of Pedesta wangi sp. nov. and the female of P. xiaoqingae (Huang & Zhan, 2004) from China (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae).

A new species of the genus Pedesta Hemming, 1934, viz. P. wangi sp. nov., is described as new to science from northwestern Guangxi, southern China. Based upon 455 bp partial COI sequences, a neighbor-joining (NJ) tree including the new species and twelve congeneric species is reconstructed. It shows that P. wangi sp. nov. is a cryptic species of P. xiaoqingae (Huang & Zhan, 2004), and the mean Kimura-2-Parameter distance between them reaches 2.8%. Wing patterns and genitalic structures of the males of the two species are illustrated and compared. In addition, three female samples are associated with P. xiaoqingae male in the NJ tree, and its wing pattern and genitalia are illustrated and described herein for the first time.

Resurrection of Caltoris ranrunna (Sonan) from synonymy as a skipper endemic to Taiwan based on COI barcode and morphology.

Caltoris ranrunna (Sonan, 1936) is resurrected from synonymy of Caltoris cahira austeni (Moore, 1883) to represent a Caltoris species endemic to Taiwan based upon COI barcode divergence and morphological diagnosis in genitalia of both sexes. This species distributes allopatrically from C. cahira of continental Asia and Andamans.

A new species of Tipulodina (Diptera, Tipulidae) from China, with description of the female internal reproductive system.

A new species of the genus Tipulodina Enderlein, 1912, Tipulodinabifurcata Xue & Men, sp. nov. (Guangxi, South China) is described and illustrated. A key to the known species in China is provided. The morphological description of the female internal reproductive system of the new species is provided, which represents the first description for this genus.

New information on the skipper fauna of Guangxi, China (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae).

The skipper fauna of Guangxi is updated based upon field surveys and examinations of specimens. Two genera and 16 species/subspecies are recognized as new records to Guangxi, of which one genus and four species are recorded from China for the first time. Distribution of seven species/subspecies in Guangxi are confirmed as well. The females of four species are described for the first time. The male genitalia of three species are illustrated and re-described. Taxonomic notes on some of these species are provided.

Rediscovery of an elusive species, Halpe sikkima Moore, 1882 (Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae) from Hainan, China.

Almost 70 years after its first record from Hainan by Evans in 1949, the second specimen of Halpe sikkima Moore, 1882 was found on the island. The male genitalia of this species are illustrated and re-described. The COI sequence is published for the first time.

DNA barcoding-based sexual association of Sovia lucasii and S. lii (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), with description of a new subspecies.

Both sexes of two sympatric and sexually dimorphic species, Sovia lucasii (Mabille, 1876) and S. lii Xue, 2015, are associated based on DNA barcoding using the COI (mitochondrial cytochrome coxidase I) gene. The females are thus identified for the first time, and their wing patterns and genitalia are described and illustrated for the convenience of morphological identification hereafter. A new subspecies, S. lucasii minor ssp. nov., from the northeastern and eastern parts of the Sichuan Basin of China, is reported. External and genital differences between the new taxon and the nominate subspecies, which is distributed in western Sichuan and newly discovered in northwestern Guangxi, are illustrated and discussed.

Mitochondrial DNA markers reveal high genetic diversity and strong genetic differentiation in populations of Dendrolimus kikuchii Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae).

Dendrolimus kikuchii Matsumura, 1927 is a serious forest pest causing great damage to coniferous trees in China. Despite its economic importance, the population genetics of this pest are poorly known. We used three mitochondrial genes (COI, COII and Cytb) to investigate the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of 15 populations collected from the main distribution regions of D. kikuchii in China. Populations show high haplotype and nucleotide diversity. Haplotype network and phylogenetic analysis divides the populations into three major clades, the central and southeastern China (CC+SEC) clade, the eastern China (EC) clade, and the southwestern China (SWC) clade. Populations collected from adjacent localities share the same clade, which is consistent with the strong relationship of isolation by distance (r = 0.74824, P = 0.00001). AMOVA analysis indicated that the major portion of this molecular genetic variation is found among the three groups of CC+SEC, EC and SWC (61.26%). Of 105 pairwise FST comparisons, 93 show high genetic differentiation. Populations of Puer (PE), Yangshuo (YS) and Leishan (LS) are separated from other populations by a larger genetic distance. Distributions of pairwise differences obtained with single and combined gene data from the overall populations are multimodal, suggesting these populations had no prior population expansion in southern China. The nonsignificant neutral test on the basis of Tajima' D and Fu's Fs, and the lack of a star-shaped haplotype network together with the multiple haplotypes support this hypothesis. Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, combined with the host specificity to Pinus species, made these regions of south China into a refuge for D. kikuchii. The high level of population genetic structuring is related to their weak flight capacity, their variations of life history and the geographic distance among populations.

[Choline chloride protects cell membrane and the photosynthetic apparatus in cucumber seedling leaves at low temperature and weak light].

Choline chloride 1.07 mmol/L treatment diminished the saturated lipid contents of the fatty acid components mainly the phosphatidylglycerol (PG) resulting in the decrease of the saturation of lipid (Table 1), declined the permeability of cell membrane and the production of MDA from lipid peroxidation (Fig.2) in the cucumber seedling leaves under low temperature and weak light (6 degrees C, PFD 100 micromol m(-2) s(-1)). Furthermore, the choline chloride treatment alleviated the degradation of chlorophyll pigments especially chlorophyll b, the decrease in maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), the capture efficiency of excited energy (Fv'/Fm'), the photochemical quenching coefficient (q(p)) and the actual photochemical efficiency (Phi PSII) of PSII (Table 2, Fig.3A, B & C), and decreases in activity of antioxidant enzymes such as POD, APX and CAT (Fig.4) in chilled leaves under weak light. In addition, choline chloride treatment increased the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) (Fig.3D) and the proline content (Fig.5) in chilled leaves under weak light. The above results indicate that choline chloride protected the cell membrane and the photosynthetic apparatus in cucumber seedling leaves from chilling stress in weak light.

New species of subgenus Tipula (Sivatipula) from China, with redescription of T. (S.) parvauricula and a key to all known species of the Oriental Region (Diptera, Tipulidae, Tipula).

Species of Tipula (Sivatipula) biprocessa sp. n. from Guangxi, China is described and illustrated as new in the subgenus Tipula (Sivatipula) Alexander, 1964. Tipula (Sivatipula) parvauricula Alexander, 1941 is redescribed and illustrated based on additional morphological characters. Semen pump of this subgenus is discussed. A key to all described species in this group is compiled.

A preliminary checklist of the skippers (Rhopalocera: Hesperiidae) of Guangxi, China.

A survey of the literature shows that a total of 64 genera comprising 155 species/subspecies of skippers have been recorded in Guangxi. Based on a field survey and the examination of specimens, 1 subspecies, Burara gomata gomata (Moore, 1866), is recorded as new to China, and 1 species, Celaenorrhinus vietnamicus Devyatkin, 1998, is reported in Guangxi for the first time. Therefore, to date, a total of 57 genera with 109 species/subspecies in 4 subfamilies of Hesperiidae have been positively identified as the fauna of Guangxi. Four genera and 42 species/subspecies are considered as requiring confirmation, and 3 genera and 6 species/subspecies are excluded. Some taxonomic notes are provided when necessary.