A revision of the genus Chaetolopha Warren (Lepidoptera : Geometridae : Larentiinae) with a description of Parachaetolopha, gen. nov.

Abstract

The Australasian species associated previously with the geometrid moth genus Chaetolopha Warren are reviewed. Six Australian taxa, including C. oxyntis (Meyrick), C. pseudooxyntis, sp. nov., C. leucophragma (Meyrick), C. decipiens (Butler), C. emporias (Turner) with a synonym Scotocyma pteridophila (Turner), syn. nov. and C. niphosticha (Turner) are assigned to Chaetolopha. Eight Papuan high altitude species associated with Chaetolopha or Tephroclystia (Hübner) in original combination and included later in Chaetolopha are reassigned to a new genus Parachaetolopha, gen. nov. These include P. flavicorpus (Warren), comb. nov., P. coerulescens (Warren), comb. nov., P. turbinata (Prout), comb. nov., P. tafa (Prout), comb. nov., P. ornatipennis (Warren), comb. nov., P. anomala Prout, comb. nov., stat. nov., P. nepenthes (Prout), comb. nov., stat. nov., P. peregrina (Prout), comb. nov., stat. nov., with new species P. petasitruncula, sp. nov., P. ferruginoapex, sp. nov., P. collatisaeta, sp. nov. and P. spinosicornuta, sp. nov. here described. A phylogenetic analysis of Chaetolopha confirms the proposal of the new genus Parachaetolopha. One species associated with Eupithecia Curtis in original combination and included later in Chaetolopha is transferred to the genus Tripteridia Warren. Lectotypes are designated for all Chaetolopha and Parachaetolopha species except for C. niphosticha, P. turbinata, P. tafa, P. anomala, P. peregrina and P. nepenthes, where a holotype was indicated in the original description. Descriptions of the genera Chaetolopha and Parachaetolopha, as well as keys to the species of both genera, are provided. All the known species are redescribed, the new ones are described, and all species are illustrated. Fern feeding in Australian Lepidoptera and vertical distribution of species of Chaetolopha and Parachaetolopha are discussed.