ORNITHOSPILINI BAN & HAN, 2018

Ban, Xiaoshuang, Jiang, Nan, Cheng, Rui, Xue, Dayong & Han, Hongxiang, 2018, Tribal classification and phylogeny of Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) inferred from seven gene regions, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 184 (3), pp. 653-672 : 661

ORNITHOSPILINI BAN & HAN TRIB. NOV.

Type genus: Ornithospila Warren, 1894 ( Holloway, 1996: plate 7, figs 217–225 and 315–316; Han & Xue, 2011a: figs 20–22 of plate 18, figs 342–344, 661–663 and 865–866).

Differential features: The wings of the members of Ornithospilini are bright green. The hind tibia of the male is not dilated. The veins Sc+ R 1 are close to the cell at one point, then separate rapidly on the hindwing; CuA 1 and M 3 are separate, and vein 3A is absent. Sternite 3 of the male abdomen lacks setal patches. The socii of the male genitalia are developed and are almost the same length as the uncus as in Hemitheini but sometimes with a basal process. The signum of the female genitalia, if present, is elongate, ovate and scobinate ( Holloway, 1996).

Ornithospilini is proposed as a new, currently monobasic tribe that is mainly distributed in the Oriental region. In this study, the Ornithospilini exemplars (two different species of Ornithospila ) form a distinct group that occupies a basal position in Geometrinae . Prout (1912) placed Ornithospila in Group IV of the Old World genera and mentioned that it probably derived from Hipparchus (Geometra) , but he also stated that the venation and genitalia of the type species agree better with Prasinocyma Warren and the Iodis group ( Jodis ). Later, Prout (1920 –41) suggested that some species of Ornithospila are somewhat analogous to Aporandria in size, shape and coloration. Although Hausmann (1996) placed Ornithospila in Geometrini , he also referred to features that differentiate it from Geometrini , such as the presence of an uncus and the shorter and slightly sclerotized socii. Holloway (1996) considered Ornithospila as set apart from the rest of the Geometrinae by the condition of the female signum, which is elongate, ovate and scobinate. This opinion is supported here, as Ornithospila is positioned at the base of Geometrinae , and the relationship to Aporandria and Geometrini is not supported.