Zoological Studies 44(2): 191-199 (2005) A Taxonomic Revision of Limbatochlamys Rothschild, 1894 with Comments on Its Tribal Placement in Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Hong-Xiang Han1,2, Anthony Galsworthy3, and Da-Yong Xue1,* 1Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China 2Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China 3Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK (Accepted January 17, 2005) Hong-Xiang Han, Anthony Galsworthy, and Da-Yong Xue (2005) A taxonomic revision of Limbatochlamys Rothschild, 1894 with comments on its tribal placement in Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Zoological Studies 44(2): 191-199. The geometrine genus Limbatochlamys is revised based on adult morphol- ogy. The lectotype of the type species, Limbatochlamys rosthorni Rothschild, 1894, is designated and illustrat- ed; descriptions and illustrations are also given for L. pararosthorni sp. nov. (Shaanxi) and L. parvisis sp. nov. (Yunnan). A key for the identification of adults is provided for the genus. The systematic position of the genus in the Geometrinae is also briefly discussed. http://www.sinica.edu.tw/zool/zoolstud/44.2/191.pdf Key words: Taxonomy, Review, Limbatochlamys, New species, China. The Geometrinae is one of the 4 largest achieved (Minet and Scoble 1998). Ferguson subfamilies of the Geometridae, itself one of the (1969 1985) classified the North American fauna largest families of the Lepidoptera, which is char- into 5 tribes, and Inoue (1961) classified the acterized by the presence of structurally unique Japanese genera into 13 tribes. Holloway (1996) tympanal organs at the base of the abdomen, and adopted 2 tribes, Dysphaniini and Geometrini, by having larvae lacking several pairs of prolegs; based on the Asian fauna; the latter included members are popularly known as“inchworms” almost all geometrine genera except for the genus because of their looping mode of progression. Dysphania, with the result that other groupings With about 2440 named species in 269 genera, which had previously been treated at the tribal the Geometrinae is the smallest of the 4 subfami- level were reduced to subtribes. Holloway recog- lies, and has an almost worldwide distribution nized 9 subtribes among the Bornean fauna, the (Minet and Scoble 1999, Scoble 1999). About 350 members of two of which, the Pseudoterpnini and species in 61 genera of Geometrinae have been the Geometrini, are relatively robust and large- recorded in China. The present study is part of a bodied, while the rest are flimsier-bodied. Pitkin , wider survey of the Geometrinae in China, intend- (1996) accepted the details of Holloway s classifi- ed to lead to a volume of the Fauna Sinica devot- cation at the subtribal level, but restored the taxa ed to this subfamily. to the tribal level to obtain a more-lucid and bal- The tribal classification of this subfamily has anced grouping. Hausmann (2001) followed , steadily evolved over the years, but as a result of Pitkin s concept of tribes. For the limited purposes concentration on regional faunas, no integrated of the current paper, we follow the same concept. tribal structure on a global scale has yet been The genus Limbatochlamys was originally * To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. Tel: 86-10-62536373. Fax: 86-10-62565689. E-mail: [email protected] 191 192 Zoological Studies 44(2): 191-199 (2005) described by Rothschild (1894) as a member of er or serrate. Frons densely scaled. Labial palpus the Geometrinae based on L. rosthorni from China, short with 2nd segment rough-scaled and 3rd seg- the only species known at that time. Prout (1912) ment much shorter. Ventral side of thorax and tentatively suggested that Limbatochlamys was femora densely hairy. Hind tibia with 2 pairs of related to Tanaorhinus Butler, 1879. Since then, spurs, not dilated in male. Tarsomere spinulose. there has been no further study of this genus, no Dorsal side of abdomen without crested scales. further species have been found, and no further Male abdomen without setal patches on 3rd stern- attempt to place the genus in a higher classifica- ite, 8th sternite weakly sclerotized. tion has been made. The genus is of some inter- Wing shape and markings: Wing large, est in that it does not obviously fit into any of the forewing length 25~37 mm. Forewing costa mod- tribal concepts, for the reasons discussed below. erately arched with apex acute and slightly falcate. Having checked a long series of Limba- Hindwing with apex rounded, tornal region slightly tochlamys specimens in the collections of the produced, hind margin extended. Both fore- and Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of hindwings with outer margin rounded. Forewing Sciences, Beijing and the Zoologisches background olive-green; costal area with a pale Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander greyish-yellow band running from wing base to Koenig, Bonn, Germany, we found 2 further unde- apex. This pale greyish-yellow band located from scribed species, closely related to L. rosthorni. costa to upper margin of cell and R2-5, then directly This provided an opportunity to provide an expand- to apex along R4, banded by distinct black line. ed definition of Limbatochlamys, and to reconsider Hindwing pale greyish-brown, tinged with pale pink its taxonomic relationships. Hence the purpose of in most areas and olive-green in terminal area. this article is to describe the 2 new species from Both forewing costal band and most areas of hind- China, to compare them with L. rosthorni, to pro- wing speckled with dark brown. Postmedial line of vide a key to the species, and to discuss the rela- forewing composed of a row of small dots on veins tionships of the species and the systematic posi- (L. rosthorni and L. pararosthorni) or of a weakly tion of the genus within the Geometrinae. dentate line (L. parvisis); postmedial line of hind- wing dark brown, dentate. Underside pale, tinged with pale pink, speckled with reddish-brown and MATERIALS AND METHODS dark brown. Specimens of Limbatochlamys were obtained from the following institutions: Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZCAS); The Natural History Museum, London, UK (BMNH); and Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany (ZFMK). Terminology follows Nichols (1989) for external features and Klots (1970) for genitalia. Photographs of adult moths and their genitalia were taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5000 digital cam- era. TAXONOMIC ACCOUNTS Limbatochlamys Rothschild, 1894 Limbatochlamys Rothschild, 1894, Novit. zool. 1: 540. Type species: Limbatochlamys rosthorni Rothschild, 1894, Novit. zool. 1: 540, pl. 12, fig. 9. by original designation. Head and body: Antenna of male shortly bipectinate, length of longest rami as long as diam- eter of antennal shaft. Rami in female much short- Fig. 1. Venation of Limbatochlamys rosthorni Rothschild. Han et al. -- A Taxonomic Revision of Limbatochlamys 193 Venation (Fig. 1): R1 of forewing arising from insects, with the wings pale green all over apart cell, shortly stalked with Sc at middle; R2 to R5 from a broad fawn streak along the costa. The stalked, R2 diverging from stalk before R5; M1 and combination of a strong undivided uncus with socii R2-5 separately arising from cell (L. rosthorni and L. of the shape illustrated in the male genitalia is also parvisis) or shortly stalked (L. pararosthorni); cell unique. nearly 1/2 middle length of forewing; M3 free. Biology: Unknown. Hindwing: Sc+R1 running close to cell near base, Geographical distribution (Fig. 2): This genus Rs arising from before upper angle of cell (L. ros- is only known from China and is restricted to the thorni and L. pararosthorni) or from upper angle of northern margin of the Oriental region. It is widely cell (L. parvisis); 3A present. distributed from southern China, to the southern Male genitalia: Uncus slender and long, fin- slope of the Qinling region (in the southern part of ger-like, basal part broadened and triangular; socii Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces), extending west- narrower than uncus, about 1/2 length of uncus; ward to the edge of the Hengduan Mountains gnathos with a posteromedial process with apex (Yunnan Prov.), and southward to most parts of acute or rounded; costal margin and sacculus of southeastern China. All specimens were collected valvae well-sclerotized; valvulae membranous; from lowlands to mountain areas, with an altitudi- transtilla weakly sclerotized, flake-like; juxta mem- nal range of 800~2700 m. branous; with coremata. Aedeagus short and thick, with sclerotized extended projection, terminal Key to the species of Limbatochlamys 1/2 sclerotized, vesica with acute cornutus. Female genitalia: Areas around ostium bur- Note: construction of a key is rendered diffi- sae strongly sclerotized; lamella postvaginalis cult by the existence of variations in the presence wrinkled and strongly sclerotized; ductus bursae and absence of discal spots and postmedial mark- short, corpus bursae broad; signum well devel- ings, as noted in the text. Most specimens of ros- oped, bicornute. thorni and parvisis will key out using the following Diagnosis: The most-obvious synapomorphy key without reference to the genitalia, but a few for the genus is the unique coloration of the specimens can only be distinguished from 70° 75° 80° 85° 90° 95° 100°105°110°115°120°125° 130°135° 50° 45° A lma -At a in Ulaanbaatar Harb 45° 40 ° Ür ümqi 40° Beijing 35° l Seou 35° 30° K Lha nghai 30 athm sa Sha ° andu 25 ° Chongqing Tr opic of Ca ncer Taipei 25° Kunming Fuzhou 20° Guangzhou Ha Noi 20 Scale 1:18,000 000 ° 0 180 360 540 Kilometre 90° 95° 100° 105° 110° 115° 120° 125° L. rosthorni Rothschild L. pararosthorni sp. nov. L. parvisis sp. nov. Fig. 2. Distribution of Limbatochlamys Rothschild. 194 Zoological Studies 44(2): 191-199 (2005) pararosthorni by examination of genitalia.