molecular analysis are as follows: 4. ‘Chlorocoma’ cadmaria is distinct genetically from 1. The Geometrinae is monophyletic apart from Chlorocoma s. str. This species is the only Chloro- Anomogenes, a ‘grey’ geometrine (Pseudopterp- coma that feeds on Leptospermum; nini), which forms a clade with the Boarmiini 5. ‘Prasinocyma’ semicrocea is genetically and mor- using 28S D2 data; phologically very close to Chlorocoma. 2. The Pseudopterpnini, apart from Anomogenes, 6. The Dysphanini, represented by Dysphania nu- forms a clade within the Geometrinae; mana, forms a distinct sister group to the Geo- 3. Oenochlora imperialis, a large emerald, that occurs metrinae (LW Rhodopsin data only). in sub-tropical Australia is well supported as This study is not complete. More taxa are yet to be having basally derived characters in the Geome- included in the molecular analysis and relationships trinae; will be further explored in the context of morpho- logical structures. Recent developments in our understanding of the southern Australian Larentiinae Peter B. McQuillan & Catherine J. Young McQuillan, P. B. & C. J. Young (2006): Recent developments in our understand- ing of the southern Australian Larentiinae. – Spixiana 29/3: 205-206 Corresponding author: Dr. Peter B. McQuillan, School of Geography and Envi- ronmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart; TAS 7000; e-mail: [email protected] There is renewed interest in the Larentiinae since moths which experience breeding peaks is wet years their basal position in the family was inferred from in the semi-arid parts of Australia and then disperse molecular data (Abraham et al. 2001, Young 2004). widely to coastal areas and off-shore islands. A few Southern Australia, defi ned as the Bassian bio- eupitheciines (e.g. Chloroclystis approximata) and geographical region, has a moderately diverse fauna xanthorhoines (e.g. Epyaxa spp.) have adapted to of larentiines of perhaps 200 species. Several major agricultural crops and orchards. Alpine adaptation tribes (e.g. Xanthorhoini, Eupitheciini, Trichoptery- is apparent in several lineages: Aponotoreas, Melitu- giini) are represented although Australian “Hydri- lias, “Hydriomena” and several xanthorhoine gen- omenini” need further study to clarify their tribal era. relationships (Schmidt 2001) and enigmatic taxa such Foodplant associations remain poorly known. as Chaetolopha, associated with ferns, currently defy As elsewhere, most xanthorhoines are herb-feeders tribal placement (Schmidt 2002). although Austrocidaria on Coprosma (as in New Zea- Larentiine diversity in Australia is greatest in land). Tympanota on Podocarpus is the only larentiine regions of higher rainfall. The Xanthorhoini are associated with Australian conifers (Dugdale 1980). strongly concentrated in the moister parts of south- Sclerophyllous understorey shrubs are important ern Australia and there is considerable local ende- hosts of many “Hydriomenini”: Hibbertia (Dilleni- mism at higher elevations. The genus Chrysolarentia aceae) supports Anachloris (Schmidt 2001) and Fa- is available for many of the Australian members of baceae shrubs support several other taxa. Epacri- this tribe. daceae is eaten by some Poecilasthena. It is notewor- There are several genera shared with New Zea- thy that almost no larentiines feed on Eucalyptus, but land, including Austrocidaria (Tasmania), Epyaxa and the reasons for this are unclear. Although Schmidt “Anzarhoe”. The phenotypically variable and multi- (2005, 2006a,b) has subjected some tropical taxa to voltine E. subidaria is one the most familiar urban recent review, much remains to be done. moths in southern Australia, thriving in lawns and gardens on Plantago and other weeds. The Eupitheciini is poorly studied though rela- References tively diverse with a number of undescribed species. Abraham, D., N. Ryrholm, H. Wittzell, J. D. Holloway, Many are associated with the reproductive parts of M. J. Scoble, and C. Löfstedt 2001. Molecular phy- plants as they are elsewhere in the world. Some are logeny of the subfamilies in Geometridae (Geo- highly vagile, including Phrissogonus laticostatus, metroidea: Lepidoptera). – Mol. Phylog. Evol. 20: which is a member of a suite of (often) polyphagous 65-77 205 Schmidt, O. 2001. The Australian species of Anachloris – – 2006a. Visiana sordidata (Moore), a complex of spe- Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae): cies from the Indo-Pacifi c region (Insecta, Lepido- taxonomy, male genitalia musculature and syste- ptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae). – Spixiana 29: matic position. – Austr. J. Ent. 40: 219-230 77-85 – – 2002. A revision of the genus Chaetolopha Warren – – Australasian genus Scotocyma Turner and the re- (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) with a cently described species S. sumatrensis Schmidt description of Parachaetolopha, gen. nov. – Inverte- (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae). – Hete- br. Sys. 16: 703-733 roc. Sumatr. 12: 241-255 – – 2003. Some results of taxonomic research on laren- Young, C. J. 2004. Characterisation of the Australian tiine moths from the Australasian region. – Spixi- Nacophorini and a phylogeny for the Geometridae ana 26: 204 from molecular and morphological data. – PhD – – 2005. Revision of Scotocyma Turner (Lepidoptera: Thesis, University of Tasmania, Hobart Geometridae: Larentiinae). – Austr. J. Ent. 44:, 257- 278 Filling in the gaps: South-Eastern Mountain Grassland as an important corridor and refuge for Montane Palaeogenic Elements within the southern African geometrid fauna (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) Martin Krüger Krüger, M. (2006): Filling in the gaps: South-Eastern Mountain Grassland as an important corridor and refuge for Montane Palaeogenic Elements within the south- ern African geometrid fauna (Lepidoptera, Geometridae). – Spixiana 29/3: 206- 207 Dr. Martin Krüger, Transvaal Museum, NFI, P.O. Box 413, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; e-mail: kruger@nfi .co.za Revisionary work on various groups of moths, with No trends were observed regarding altitudinal a focus on Geometridae, since the late 1990’s has distribution at subfamily level, and representation provided substantial evidence for the existence of a of Geometrinae, Sterrhinae and Ennominae as a Montane Palaeogenic Element as defi ned by Stuck- percentage of the species total for southern Africa enberg (1962) within the southern African geometrid was similar (9.94 to 12.96 %), although Larentiinae fauna. However, although distribution patterns for were more strongly represented (34 species or several taxa are now well documented for the West- 21.94 % of the total for the subregion). When viewed ern Cape, the Maloti Mountains of Lesotho and in isolation, the fauna of South-Eastern Mountain mountainous areas of the escarpment further north, Grassland is characterized by a marked reduction virtually no data from suitable high-lying areas that in Geometrinae and Sterrhinae, with a concomitant may support this relictual fauna have been available increase in Larentiinae. Within Ennominae, how- for the vast area between the Western Cape and the ever, samples from Eastern Mixed Nama Karoo were foothills of the Malotis, representing a gap of more dominated by Macariini, whereas the diversity of than 500 km. Ennomini, Gnophini and especially Nacophorini A recent sample comprising 141 species of Ge- increased in South-Eastern Mountain Grassland. ometridae collected in the Sneeuberge (approx. Nacophorini have only recently been recorded from 32°10'S 24°55'E), situated in the western part of southern Africa; the tribe remains unsatisfactorily Eastern Cape Province, South Africa at altitudes defi ned but is probably basal within Ennominae and between 993 and 1618 m, was analyzed for trends almost entirely limited in its distribution to the in composition according to altitude and/or vegeta- former Gondwanan continents Australia, South tion type. (The highest peak in the area reaches America and southern Africa. 2122 m but areas above 1618 m could not be sampled As would be expected from its being contiguous due to diffi culty of access.) Above 1600 m, the area to Alti-Mountain Grassland, one of the two dominant is occupied by a southerly extension of South-East- high-altitude veld types in Lesotho, in the eastern ern Mountain Grassland (grassland biome), where- part of its range, the montane moth community as the lower-lying areas fall into the semiarid Eastern dependent on South-Eastern Mountain Grassland is Mixed Nama Karoo (Nama Karoo biome), a semi- overall more similar to that of the Maloti range and arid veld type ecotonal to grassland. adjacent montane areas than to that of the Western 206.