Montiscola hongfui Mi & Cheng, 2025

Mi, Xiaoye, Han, Hongxiang, Pan, Zhao, Zhu, Chaodong & Cheng, Rui, 2025, Montiscola gen. n., a new alpine genus of Gnophini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from Xizang, China, with brachypterous females, Zootaxa 5621 (5), pp. 594-600 : 598-599

Montiscola hongfui Mi & Cheng , sp. nov. ( Figs 2–6 , 14–15 )

Chinese common name: 弘复ṭĸś

Description. Head. Antennae blackish brown, with basal segment lighter or lighter brown. Compound eyes large, about 2/3 of entire head. Frons and vertex greyish black. Labial palpus with first segment bearing long hair.

Thorax. Dorsal and ventral sides of thorax greyish black.

Wings. Male. Wingspan: 19–21 mm. Body length: about 8 mm. Forewing with ground colour greyish brown; hind wing lighter, area close to outer margin darker; wings decorated with dense black scales. Forewing with antemedial line blackish brown, doubly curved, from proximal 1/3 of costa to 1/3 of hind margin, sometimes obscure; postmedial line dentate on veins, arched outwards between veins M 1 and CuA 1, concave between veins CuA 2 and 2A; from 2/3 of costa to 2/3 of hind margin; postmedial line distally with pale narrow band on the outer side; submarginal and terminal lines indistinct; discal spot blackish brown. Hind wing with postmedial line indistinct; discal spot smaller than that of forewing. Fringes concolorous with wings. Underside: Similar colour to upperside; forewing with postmedial line with a pale area outside, slightly curved from costa to vein M 3, then gradually tapering and straight, not reaching hind margin; hind wing with postmedial line indistinct; discal spot same as upperside.

Female. Wings brachypterous. Wingspan: 8 mm. Body length: about 5 mm. Ground colour greyish brown. Forewing with medial and postmedial lines appearing as diffuse dark greyish brown band (scales mostly detached in one female). Hind wing with a similar postmedial band as in forewing. Underside as upperside.

Abdomen. Abdomen with dorsal side greyish black, ventral side paler.

Male genitalia. Uncus triangular with apex blunt. Gnathos stout, median process small and blunt. Valva long and narrow, apex rounded; middle area of short setae present near apex; costa strongly sclerotized, with a short stout spine and a narrow bristle on distal 1/3; sacculus strongly sclerotized at base, a narrow, sclerotized band, distally extending inwards and forming a sclerotized band-like area. Valve lamina sclerotized at basal half. Juxta slender, distally deeply v-shaped, approaching base of gnathos; anterior base broad, deeply concave with a pair of rounded expansions, then tapering to evenly rounded middle part saccus very narrow and short. Aedeagus thin, cylindrical, with uniform thickness, coecum about 1/6 length of whole aedeagus; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor lobes stout. Lamella antevaginalis a small tongue-like process near ostium bursae. Lamella postvaginalis unmodified. Apophyses anteriores about 1/2 length to apophyses posteriores. Ductus bursae with posterior part very broad, funnel-shaped, most of the rest narrow, laterally strongly sclerotized. Corpus bursae round; signum absent.

Diagnosis. As in the diagnosis of the genus.

Etymology. The species is named after the renowned entomologist Zhu Hongfu.

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( IZCAS), CHINA, Xizang: Kongtanglam Mountain, Jilong , 4806 m, 14.vii.2024, leg. Mi Xiaoye & Cheng Rui, IZCAS slide no. Geom-7352, IOZ LEP M 51118 . Paratypes. Xizang: Kongtanglam Mountain, Jilong , 1288♂2♀, 4200–5000 m, 14.vii.2024, IZCAS slide no. Geom-7351 (♀), 7494 (♂) , 7495 (♂), IOZ LEP M 51093 (♂), 51094 (♂), 51095 (♂), 51096 (♂), 51122 (♂), 51099 (♀) .

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Biology. Field observations indicate this species demonstrates seasonal abundance within its specific ecological niche, showing particularly high population densities. Found at altitudes ranging from 4200 to 5000 meters ( Figs 16–17 ), the species is characterized by brachypterous (short-winged) females, which implies an adaptation to endure cold temperatures, strong winds, and thin air. It appears to complete one generation per year, with its potential food sources being low shrubs.

Figures

FIGURES 2–11. Adults and characteristic details of Montiscola hongfui gen. & sp. nov. 2, male, holotype, IZCAS, upperside; 3, ditto, underside; 4, female, paratype, IZCAS, upperside; 5, ditto, underside; 6, female, paratype, upperside. Scale bars in male = 1 cm, in female = 1 mm. 7, male abdomen; 8, head in lateral view (male); 9–11, variation of forewing vein R2 from three male specimens.

FIGURES 12–17.Venation,genitalia and type-localitiesof M.hongfui gen. &sp. nov. 12, female;13, male.14, female, paratype, IZCAS slide no. Geom-7351; 15, male, holotype, IZCAS slide no. Geom-7352. Scale bars = 1 mm. 16–17: Kongtanglam Mountain, Jilong, Xizang. 16, altitude 4600 m; 17, altitude 4400 m.