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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.

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.

The Himalaya, Hengduan, and Qinling mountains are very important mountain systems in China. Because they are geographically adjacent, species distributed in these three mountains usually have close relationships, but species/populations distributed in the first two mountain systems have higher genetic diversity and more complex phylogenetic structures than those found in the Qinling Mountains. In this study, we used molecular and morphological methods to explore the phylogeographical structure, species differentiation, and evolutionary history of the Biston falcata species group, which is widely distributed in the Himalaya, Hengduan, and Qinling mountains. Five species were identified; B. quercii is distributed in the Qinling Mountains and its adjacent areas, and the other four species are mainly distributed in the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains. Four gradual species differentiation events occurred at approximately 3.07, 1.75, 1.50, and 1.30 Ma, corresponding to the stage with strong geological movements of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. The low land between the Qinling and the northern Hengduan Mountains, the Sichuan Basin, the low land between the eastern and central Himalaya Mountains and the Mekong‐Salween Divide are four geographical barriers that resulted in multiple speciations. In addition, long‐range dispersal as another mechanism for speciation is non‐negligible. In spite of failing to confirm the ancestral area, our study provided direct evidence of the speciation induced by the geographical barriers and adaptation to the plateau.

The Chinese species of the genusTimandraDuponchel, 1829 are reviewed: 12 known species are reported. Seven new species are described from China, increasing the total number ofTimandraspecies to 28:T.distortasp. n.,T.aduncasp. n.,T.quadratasp. n.,T.accumulatasp. n.,T.vimineasp. n.,T.robustasp. n.andT.stueningisp. n.Diagnoses for all 19 Chinese species are provided, with illustrations of external features and genitalia.

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.

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.

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., The Naynayxungla Glaciation promoted the divergence of the two lineages by restricting them to different refugia. The Shennongjia and Wushan Mountains are one important and easily neglected refugia for the insect groups and are worthy of more attention.

Mountain systems, especially at high altitudes, are an excellent model for determining the mechanisms underlying high species diversity and endemism. Herein, we elucidate the evolutionary history of the alpine moth Arichanna perimelaina (Wehrli), which is endemic to the Hengduan Mountains (HM) region in southwest China, based on three mitochondrial genes and two nuclear genes. Our results revealed six deeply divergent clades that corresponded to populations in different mountain systems in the HM region. Bayesian divergence time estimations suggested a mid- to late Pleistocene genetic divergence. The results also showed that the Mt Yulong (YL) region was a refugium and valley corridors established by glaciation during the Pleistocene allowed populations on the separate mountains to migrate. The reproductive isolation among the different clades on contact zone in the YL region may be associated with the asynchronous mating rhythms and/or the divergent mate recognition caused by the ecological source of divergent selection. Allopatric divergence associated with complex topographies and climatic oscillations, regional dispersal via valley corridors and the suitable refugium of the YL region shaped the genetic divergence and distribution pattern of A. perimelaina in the HM region. These findings highlight the essential role of complex terrain and climatic fluctuations in shaping the unique phylogeographic history of a narrow alpine moth, and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying high species richness and endemism in the HM region.

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.

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.

Biston panterinaria, Biston thibetaria and Biston perclara are very closely related species in the genus Biston, judged on the basis of both morphological and molecular evidence. The distribution area and altitudes, and host plants of these three species also show both consistency and differences. However, the exact relationship between the three species is unclear. In this study, we used the ‘distance-based method’, the ‘tree-based method’ and Bayesian phylogenetics and phylogeography to elucidate the relationship between the three species. Phylogenetic trees based on mitogenomes, COI+CYTB+16S and three nuDNA genes were constructed. The results of the phylogenetic trees revealed that B. thibetaria and B. perclara were derived from B. panterinaria and render the latter paraphyletic. The budding process of speciation is therefore presumed to be the main factor causing a phylogenetic relationship of this pattern. A host shift from broad-leaved plants living at low altitudes to gymnosperms living at relatively high altitudes provides evidence of budding speciation in these three species. The divergence time suggests that the budding speciation occurred at approximately 1.38 Ma, which is consistent with the Kunlun-Yellow River Movement. Tectonic movements occurring around the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau may be the driver of the budding speciation.

The Mountains of Southwest China (MSC) – the most important mountain system in East Asia – creates physical barriers to migration and isolates organisms in different regions. In this study, we explored the genetic structure and phylogeography of Biston suppressaria, a moth species widely distributed in MSC and south China, based on three mtDNA and three ncDNA loci. MtDNA revealed high genetic differentiation among the geographical populations and divided B. suppressaria into five phylogroups (A–E). With the exception of phylogroups B and E which are sympatric, the other three phylogroups have their own distinct distribution areas. Four population differentiations occurred, and the divergence time was consistent with the three phases of the Qinghai–Tibet Movement and Kunhuang Movement, respectively. In contrast, ncDNA did not reveal any phylogeographical structure. Incomplete lineage sorting is considered the most plausible cause of the discordance between mtDNA and ncDNA genes, after excluding secondary admixture and Wolbachia infection. A complex combination of topography and geological movements of south China and MSC contributes to the complex evolutionary history of B. suppressaria.

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.

The alterations in the phylogeographical structures of insects in response to the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Quaternary glaciations in eastern Asia, particularly in northern China, remain largely unknown. In this study, we selected Apocheima cinerarius, a moth with flightless females, using molecular data (complete mitochondrial genomes and nuclear data) and ecological niche modelling (ENM) to investigate the effects of paleoclimatic changes on the evolutionary history of insects in the area of northern China. The phylogenetic tree of complete mitochondrial genomes indicated that there were two lineages, the western and eastern lineages. The nuclear gene analyses also detected unique haplotypes in each lineage. Time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of the two lineages was approximately in Early–Middle Pleistocene. Bayesian skyline plots revealed that the western lineage underwent a population expansion event after the Last Glacial Maximum, whereas the eastern lineage underwent expansion between the Last Interglacial and the Last Glacial Maximum. Our results suggest that A. cinerarius expanded eastward from western sites until the moth was distributed across the entire region of northern China. Then, A. cinerarius underwent contraction into isolated glacial refugia followed by subsequent expansion driven by Pleistocene climate changes, which established a narrow sympatric area. Our results indicate that the Quaternary environmental fluctuations had profound influences on the diversification and demography of an insect in northern China, and the same species in north-western China and north-eastern China have different demographic histories.

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 (Guenee, 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.

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 new species of the genus Ninodes Warren, N. quadratus sp. 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.

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 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 (mitogenome) of the Chinese pistacia looper Biston panterinaria was sequenced and annotated (15,517bp). It contains the typical 37 genes of animal mitogenomes and a high A+T content (79.5%). All protein coding genes (PCGs) use standard ATN initiation codons except for cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COX1) with CGA. Eleven PCGs use a common stop codon of TAA or TAG, whereas COX2 and NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4) use a single T. All transfer RNA (tRNA) genes have the typical clover-leaf structure with the exception of tRNA(Ser(AGN)). We reconstructed a preliminary mitochondrial phylogeny of six ditrysian superfamilies and performed comparative analyses of inference methods (Bayesian Inference (BI), Maximum Likelihood (ML), and Maximum Parsimony (MP)), dataset compositions (including and excluding 3rd codon positions), and alignment methods (Muscle, Clustal W, and MAFFT). Our analyses indicated that inference methods and dataset compositions more significantly affected the phylogenetic results than alignment methods. BI analysis consistently revealed uncontroversial relationships with all dataset compositions. By contrast, ML analysis failed to reconstruct stable phylogeny at two nodes, whereas MP analysis had more difficulties in the tree resolution and nodal support. Distinct from most previous studies, our analyses revealed that Geometroidea had a closer lineage relationship with Bombycoidea than Noctuoidea. Similar to previous molecular studies, our analyses revealed that Hesperiidae were nested in the Papilionoidea clade, providing further evidence to the previous concept that Papilionoidea was paraphyletic, and none of the butterflies were associated with the Macroheterocera.

Lithostege Hübner [1825] 1816, is a widely distributed and species-rich genus, reported from nearly all continents except Australia, but with the main focus of distribution in the Palaearctic region (African species are only known from the Palaearctic northern areas). Parsons et al. (1999) listed 49 species and 8 subspecies. The updated list of Geometridae of the World (Scoble & Hausmann 2007) mentioned 50 species worldwide, 39 of them with Palaearctic origin. In a recent paper (Lehmann 2011) and a review of Lithostege from the Middle East (Rajaei et al. 2011), two new species from Iran and one from Pakistan have been added. In addition, one species has been synonymized and a subspecies was upgraded to species rank, which did not change the total number of 53 known species.

The genus Peratophyga Warren, 1894 in China is reviewed. Six species are recognized, of which P. crista sp. nov. and P. recta sp. nov. are described. P. hyalinata grata (Butler, 1879) is restored to specific rank as P. grata (Butler, 1879) stat. rev. P. grata totifasciata Wehrli, 1923 comb. nov. is proposed. P. xanthyala (Hampson, 1896) and P. grata grata (Butler, 1879) are newly recorded for China. Two species are transferred from Peratophyga to the genus Stegania Guenée, 1845: S. castaneostriata (Yazaki & Wang, 2004) comb. nov. and S. modesta (Yazaki & Wang, 2004) comb. nov. A key to Chinese Peratophyga and diagnoses for Chinese species are provided. Illustrations of external features and genitalia are presented.

The Comibaenini are reviewed and their characters are assessed. Eight genera are included in the tribe, with one new genus and 11 new species described. Descriptions and diagnoses of the genera and diagnoses for species are provided. All Chinese species of Comibaena fall into four species groups on the basis of the morphology of the male genitalia. The synonymic relationship between Chlorochromodes and Comostolodes is discussed, and the statuses of all the related species are revised. Three new synonyms are established. Moths of all species are illustrated in colour and genitalia figures are provided. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165, 723–772.

The genus Pseudostegania Butler is revised. In addition to the two species known, four species are described as new: P. lijiangensis sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, P. qinlingensis sp. nov. from Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces, P. zhoui sp. nov. from Sichuan Province (China) and P. burmaensis sp. nov. from Burma (Myanmar); two species are newly combined with Pseudostegania: P. distinctaria (Leech, 1897), comb. nov. and P. yargongaria (Oberthur, 1916), comb. nov. All the known species are redescribed and lectotypes are designated for P. defectata (Christoph, 1881), P. distinctaria and P. yargongaria. The generic characters, based on all species, are summarized. The tribal placement of Pseudostegania is discussed. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented.

Fifteen species of the genus Elophila Hubner are recognised from China, including two new species described herein, namely E. radiospinula and E. nuda. The species E. melagynalis (Agassiz, 1978) from Fujian Province was a misidentification of Thysanoidma octalis Hampson, 1891 and its record in China is abolished. The species E. manilensis (Hampson, 1917), E. orientalis (Filipjev, 1933) and E. miurai Yoshiyasu, 1985 are reported for the first time in China. Descriptions of the genus and subgenera and a key to the Chinese species of Elophila are provided. The adults and the genital structures of all examined species are illustrated.

The genus Hemistola Warren from China is reviewed, and seven new species are described: H. viridimargo, sp. nov., H. glauca sp. nov., H. asymmetra sp. nov., H. arcilinea sp. nov., H. flavifimbria sp. nov., H. orbiculosoides sp. nov. and H. stueningi sp. nov. Two species, acyra and christinaria, are transferred from Hemistola to Maxates and Comostola, respectively: Maxates acyra comb. nov. and Comostola christinaria comb. nov. Including the 25 species previously known from China, a total of 32 species is now recorded. All Chinese species are redescribed. Generic characters based on all species are summarized. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are presented.

Tricalcaria Han gen. nov. and its type species Tricalcaria stueningi Han sp. nov. are described from China. Morphological characters, including those of the male and female genitalia, are figured. The main diagnostic characters of Tricalcaria are: hind tibia with three spurs in both male and female; ventral margin of costal protrusion bearing a series of long, hook-like, sclerotized setae in the male genitalia; female papilla analis modified and bearing over part of its surface broad blade-like sclerotized setae. The wing pattern, venation, and genitalia of this genus are compared with those of the most closely related genera, Tristeirometa Holloway, 1997, Hypocometa Warren, 1896, and Phthonoloba Warren, 1893. Tribal placement is discussed, with the conclusion that the new genus should be placed in the tribe Trichopterygini.

Epichrysodes gen. n. and its type-species E. tienmuensis sp. n. are described from West Tianmu Shan, Zhejiang province, China. Morphological characters, including those of the male genitalia, are figured and compared to a number of related genera, especially Chlorissa Stephens, Thalera Hubner and Culpinia Prout. Main diagnosic characters of Epichrysodes are: pale yellow wing colour, peculiar wing pattern, very faint transverse lines, lack of frenulum. Its tribal placement is discussed, and here it is proposed to include it in the Hemitheini. Type-specimens are deposited at Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn (holotype and three paratypes) and Institute of Zoology; Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (one paratype). (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

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, RonkayRonkay, 2001, Hiroshia Laszlo, RonkayRonkay, 2001, Chiropsestis rubrocinerea Laszlo, RonkayRonkay, 2001, Hiroshia albinigra Laszlo, RonkayRonkay, 2001, Parapsestis hausmanni Laszlo, Ronkay, RonkayWitt, 2007, Spica luteola Swinhoe, 1889, Parapsestis cinerea pacifica Laszlo, Ronkay, RonkayWitt, 2007, Tethea (Saronaga) consimilis aurisigna Bryk, 1943, Nothoploca nigripunctata fansipana Laszlo, RonkayRonkay, 2001). Ten misidentifications in Zhao (2004) are corrected. Illustrations of external features and genitalia of the new taxa and new records are presented.

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.

The genus Euryobeidia Fletcher, 1979 is reviewed. Five species from China are recognized, of which, E. ellipsoidea sp. nov., E. incrassata sp. nov. and E. quadrata sp. nov. are described as new to science. Diagnoses for all the species are provided and illustrations of external features and genitalia are presented.

Owing to the high species diversity and the lack of a modern revision, the phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Boarmiini remain largely unexplored. In this study, we reconstruct the first molecular phylogeny of the Palaearctic and Oriental members of Boarmiini, and infer the relationships among tribes within the ‘boarmiine’ lineage. One mitochondrial (COI) and four nuclear (EF-1α, CAD, RpS5, GAPDH) genes for 56 genera and 96 species of Boarmiini mostly from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions were included in the study. Analyses of Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood recovered largely congruent results. The monophyly of Boarmiini is supported by our results. Seven clades and seven subclades within Boarmiini were found. The molecular results coupled with morphological studies suggested the synonymisation of Zanclopera Warren, 1894, syn. nov. with Krananda Moore, 1868. The following new combinations are proposed: Krananda straminearia (Leech, 1897) (comb. nov.), Krananda falcata (Warren, 1894) (comb. nov.), and Krananda fulva (Yazaki, 1994) (comb. nov.). Our results also supported the monophyly of the ‘boarmiine’ lineage. Boarmiini were recovered as sister to the remaining taxa within the ‘boarmiine’ lineage, and Macariini were recovered as sister to Abraxini, Eutoeini and Cassymini.

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.

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.

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.

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of a female flightless geometrid moth Apocheima cinerarius was found to be 15,722 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a control region. The A+T content of the complete mitogenome is 80.83%. The AT skew value ([A-T]/[A+T]) is 0.027. The 13 PCGs of the mitogenome start with typical ATN codons, except for cox1 with the start codon CGA. All the tRNA genes have typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for trnSer(AGN). The secondary structures of rrnL and rrnS were predicted. Six structural domains including conserved regions (IV, V) and variable regions (I, II, III, VI) were identified in the secondary structure of rrnL. The secondary structure of rrnS consists of 3 structural domains. The control region of A. cinerarius begins with conserved motifs of "ATAGA"+19-bp poly T. It also contains a microsatellite-like (TA)26, a stem-and-loop structure, and a poly-A stretch. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Geometroidea is more closely related to Bombycoidea than to Noctuoidea. A. cinerarius is more closely related to Biston panterinaria than to Phthonandria atrilineata, which is in accordance with the conventional morphology-based classification.

4 Corresponding author Abstract The genus Syzeuxis Hampson, 1895 is reviewed. In addition to the 11 species known worldwide, two new species are described: S. furcalineas sp. nov. from Assam, India and S. pavonata sp. nov. from Yunnan, China. One new synonymy is given: S. miniocalaria Xue, 1999 is sunk in S. heteromeces Prout, 1926. All the known species are redescribed and lectotypes are designated for S. magnidica Prout, S. subfasciaria (Wehrli) and S. nigrinotata (Warren). Generic characters based on all species are summarized. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented. The tribal placement of the genus is discussed, with the conclusion that it should be placed in the tribe Trichopterygini. A pilot phylogenetic study based on morphological charac- ters of Syzeuxis indicates that four species-groups can be identified. The biogeographical aspects of the genus are also dis- cussed.

The genus Episothalma Swinhoe is reviewed, and two new species are described: E. irrobustaria, sp. nov. from Thailand, and E. cuspidata sp. nov. from Hainan Province, China. E. ocellata Swinhoe is excluded from Episothalma and Pseudepisothalma gen. nov. is erected based on this species. A lectotype is designated for P. ocellata. Descriptions and diagnoses for both genera are given. All the known species are redescribed, and variations in the male genitalia of E. robustaria (Guenée) are described and figured. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are presented.

A molecular phylogenetic study of the Drepanoidea based on the EF-1α sequences and combined EF-1α and COI sequences was carried out in order to infer higher classification at and above the subfamily level. The sample contained 14 taxa representing 13 genera recognized in the Drepanoidea. The results revealed that the Drepaninae, Thyatirinae and Cyclidiinae respectively form monophyletic groups. The sister relationship between the Drepaninae and the Thyatirinae was validated. The monophyly of the Cyclidiinae with the Drepaninae+Thyatirinae was supported robustly.Hypsomadius insignisandOreta vatamawithin the traditional definition of the Drepaninae formed an individual clade with robust support (100%) and constitutes a sister relationship to a clade containing the rest of the Drepaninae in all the topologies, which means that the subfamily Oretinae of the Drepanidae should be restored. The family Drepanidae is divided into four subfamilies: Drepaninae, Oretinae, Thyatirinae and Cyclidiinae in this work. The family Epicopeiidae formed a monophyly with high bootstrap values. The result of combined analysis of EF-1α and COI showed that the Epicopeiidae have a closer phylogenetic relationship with the Geometridae than with the Drepanidae and belong to neither the Drepanoidea nor the Geometroidea.