Biston thoracicaria ( Oberthuer , 1884)

Jiang, Nan, Xue, Dayong & Han, Hongxiang, 2011, A review of Biston Leach, 1815 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China, with description of one new species, ZooKeys 139, pp. 45-96 : 53-54

Biston thoracicaria ( Oberthuer, 1884) Figs 11, 127299118

Jankowskia thoracicaria Oberthür, 1884, Études ent., 9: 26, pl. 2, fig. 8. 4 Syntypes 4♂♀, Russia: Sidemi. (ZFMK)

Lycia tortuosa Wileman, 1911, Trans. ent. Soc. Lond., 1911 (2): 310, pl. 30, fig. 1, pl. 31, fig. 27. Holotype ♂, Japan: Oshima, Tobetsu. (BMNH) (Synonymized by Inoue, (1976))

Biston thoracicaria : Prout, 1915, in Seitz, Macrolepid. World, 4: 359, pl. 19: g.

Diagnosis.

The external characters of this species are close to those of Biston betularia as follows: the male antennae are partially bipectinate and filiform at apex; the forewing postmedial line protrudes outwards between M1 and M3 and between CuA2 and 1A + 2A; the discal spots of both wings are stripe-like. But it can be distinguished from Biston betularia by the following characters: distinctly smaller; the wing colour is dark brown, but greyish black in Biston betularia ; the hindwing basal line is present, but absent in Biston betularia ; the forewing R1 and R2 are separate, but stalked in Biston betularia . In the male genitalia, the apex of the uncus and the median process of the gnathos are more slender than those of Biston betularia ; the valva is more slender and longer; the juxta is much narrower; the cornutus is small and spine-like, whereas Biston betularia has two kinds of cornuti, one is a large bundle of spines, the other is a small tuft of spines. In the female genitalia, the corpus bursae is curved in the anterior half, while in Biston betularia , it is expanded posteriorly and narrow medially; the signum is elliptic, with several small marginal spines, whereas it is bar-like and without marginal spines in Biston betularia .

Material examineds.

RUSSIA (ZFMK): Sidemi, coll. Oberthür, 2♂ (Syntypes); Dairen, Mantschourie, coll. H. Höne, 1♂ (Syntype). CHINA, Shaanxi (ZFMK): Tsinling, Tapaishan, coll. H. Höne, 8♂1♀. Shantung [Shandong] (ZFMK): Tai-Shan, 1550 m, coll. H. Höne, large seriesincluding 3♀. Jiangsu (ZFMK): Nanking, Lungtan, coll. H. Höne, 3♂; Zhejiang (ZFMK): East-tien-mu-shan, coll. H. Höne, 3♂; Yuennan[Yunnan] (ZFMK): Li-kiang, coll. H. Höne,1♂. Beijing (IZCAS): 5.VII.1949, 1♀; VII.1972, coll. Zhang Baolin, 3♂; Baihuashan, 9.VII.1973, coll. Han Yinheng, 1♀. Hebei (IZCAS): Yibao, 12.VIII.1972, coll. Zhang Baolin, 3♂. Henan (IZCAS): Xinyang, Jigongshan, 250 m, 20-21.VII.2002, coll. Han Hongxiang, 1♂. Shaanxi (IZCAS): Huangbaiyuan, 13.VII.1980, coll. Zhang Baolin, 1♂. Gansu (IZCAS): Wenxian, Bikou, 720 m, 28.VII.1999, coll. Yao Jian, 1♂. Zhejiang (IZCAS): Tianmushan, 4.V.1980, coll. Cai Rongquan, 1♂. Hubei (IZCAS): Shennongjia, Shouge, 900 m, 18.VI.1981, coll. Han Yinheng, 2♂.

Distribution.

China (Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Yunnan), Russia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea.