Revision of the genus Prometopidia Hampson, 1902, with description of the new species P. joshimathensis sp. nov. from West-Himalaya and its subspecies P. j. yazakii ssp. nov. from Nepal (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Ennominae).

Abstract

The genus Prometopidia Hampson, 1902 and its type-species P. conisaria Hampson, 1902 are redescribed and newly discovered morphological characters are explained. The female holotype of Prometopidia arenosa Wiltshire, 1961, was studied and the species redescribed, its correct position in Prometopidia is verified. The new species P. joshimathensis sp. nov. is described from Joshimath area in India, Uttarakhand province. Sympatric with P. conisaria at Joshimath, P. joshimathensis also occurs at Shimla, Punjab province, and in central and eastern Nepal. Morphological and genetic differences found in the specimens of Nepal are considered subspecific, justifying the new taxon P. joshimathensis yazakii ssp. nov. Types and specimens of Prometopidia across its whole range of distribution from Afghanistan to Nepal, habitats, genitalia, remarkable morphological characters and DNA barcoding-results are figured.