Girida Mironov & Galsworthy

Mironov, Vladimir G. & Galsworthy, Anthony C., 2012, A generic level review of Eupithecia Curtis and some closely related genera based on the Palaearctic, Nearctic and Oriental fauna (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), Zootaxa 3587, pp. 46-64 : 58

Girida Mironov & Galsworthy , gen. n.

Type species: Eupithecia rigida Swinhoe. Gender : feminine.

Description. Adults (figs 6, 7). Labial palpi with separate tufts of scales at the base under eyes. Frons with short tuft of scales directed forwards. Antennae multiply indented in male with two rows of elongate ciliae and filiform, ciliate in female. Metathorax without crests of scales. Hind leg with two approximate pairs of tibial spurs. Apodemes of the second tergite large, broad, horseshoe-shaped. Venation of fore wing (fig. 15): R1 long, not uniting or anastomosing with Sc; areole with oblique short transverse vein. Venation of hind wing: M3 and CuA1 arising separately from cell. Venation of hind wing: M3 and CuA1 arising separately from cell (fig. 15). Fore wing relatively narrow and elongate; hind wing triangular with broadly rounded apex; both unicolorous dark brown, the hind wing slightly paler; markings limited to a small fore wing discal dot, and a whitish postmedial line forming pale spots near fore wing apex and tornus of both wings. Underside of wings very dark, pattern similar to upperside. Eighth abdominal segment with two lateral crests of scales at the base in male. No sexual dimorphism in size, shape, coloration and pattern of wings.

Male genitalia (figs. 22, 24). Uncus short, broad, uniapical. Valve short with strongly broadened sacculus. Coremata present. Labides generally as in Eupithecia , but anterior arms without papillae at their ends, bearing only a setose membrane on the underside. Fultura inferior broad, jug-shaped: juxta ovoid; caulis heavily sclerotized, trapezoid with longer posterior margin. Aedeagus narrow, with ductus ejaculatorius attached to central part. Vesica with a single cornutus. Sternite A8 unmodified.

Female genitalia (fig. 27). Bursa copulatrix globular or ovate, completely covered with small, slim spines. Ductus bursae weakly sclerotized, short, tapered, spineless. Ductus seminalis short, slightly broadened at base, and attached to ductus bursae near base of colliculum on right side. Colliculum elongate and narrow. Antrum membranous. Sinus consisting of two relatively broad, band-like, sclerotized transverse branches connected with centres of anterior apophyses. Tergite A8 strongly transverse, its posterior margin covered by short setae. Apophyses relatively short and stout. Papillae anales short and broad.

Distribution. South and South East Asia, Borneo, Timor Is., New Caledonia, Rossel Is., Solomon Is., Madagascar, eastern and southern Africa. Inoue (1979) suggested that the African taxon described by Prout as ssp. sporadica (fig. 7) was probably a separate species, having noticeably different male genitalia (fig. 24). We agree with this, and formalise the separation here.

Species included

Girida rigida Swinhoe (1892) Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, (1), 2, pl. I, fig. 6, ( Eupithecia ). Lectotype 3 (designated by Inoue, 1979, BMNH; examined), [ India]: [Khasia Hills] (comb. n.).

Distribution. Japan (Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri Hills, Khasia Hills), Thailand, Philippines (Luzon), Borneo, Timor, Rossel I., Solomons, New Caledonia.

Girida sporadica Prout (1932) Mémoires de la Société zoologique de France, 29 (5), 442, ( Eupithecia ). Holotype Ƥ (MNHN), Kenya: Taveta, 750 m (comb. and stat. n.).

Distribution. Eastern Africa ( Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Madagascar).