HEMITHEITI

HEMITHEITI + MICROLOXIITI

The subtribe Hemitheiti (i.e Hemitheini s.s.), embracing 18 genera ( Inoue, 1961; Ferguson, 1969, 1985; Hausmann, 1996; Pitkin, 1996; Viidalepp, 1996), is mainly characterized by the male genitalia, in which the uncus is slender, rod-like and pointed or tapered, and the socii are usually similar to the uncus in shape and size ( Pitkin, 1996).

In this study, Microloxiini, Hemitheini s.s. and Thalerini listed in Forum Herbulot (2007) are grouped in a clade with good support. The phylogenetic relationship within this clade is well resolved in Bayesian analyses, with the genus Episothalma Swinhoe at the most basal position. Microloxia Warren is sister to Pamphlebia Warren and then clusters with Hemithea Duponchel , Hethemia Ferguson falls within Thalera , and Chlorochlamys Hulst is clustered with Chloropteryx Hulst first and then grouped with Chlorissa Stephens.

The type genus of the subtribe Thaleriti , Thalera , was placed in Hemitheini by Inoue (1961). Subsequently, Herbulot (1963) established Thaleriti (as Thalerini) based on Thalera . Hausmann (1996) stated that Hemitheiti is rather closely related to Thaleriti based on genitalic morphology. In this study, Thaleriti [including the type species of Thalera , Thalera fimbrialis (Scopoli) ] are embedded in Hemitheiti [including the type species of Hemithea , Hemithea aestivaria (Hübner) ]. Based on the similarities in the male genitalia of the Thaleriti and Hemitheiti , such as the similar shape and size of the uncus and the socii ( Han & Xue, 2011a: figs 225, 353), Thaleriti (syn. nov.) can be synonymized with Hemitheiti . Accordingly, several other genera of Thaleriti , recognized by Hausmann (1996, 2001) ( Culpinia Prout , Bustilloxia Expósito , Dyschloropsis Warren , Heteroculpinia Hausmann , Dolosis Prout and Kuchleria Hausmann ), should be transferred into Hemitheiti .

The subtribe Microloxiiti (as Microloxiini) was established by Hausmann (1996) and includes 11 genera. Externally, these genera share stalked M 3 and CuA 1 of the hindwing, and the presence of socii and uncus of similar lengths as the Hemitheiti . In this analysis, though Microloxia ruficornis Warren is embedded in Hemitheiti , it is not the type species and, therefore, does not necessarily represent the whole of Microloxia or even Microloxiiti . We, therefore, hesitate to synonymize Microloxiiti with Hemitheiti ; the relationship between Microloxiiti and Hemitheiti needs further study with more taxa.

The monotypic genus Hethemia , with Hethemia pistasciaria (Guenée) as the type species, is found in North America. In this study, Hethemia falls within Thalera , forms a monophyletic clade with Thalera fimbrialis (= type species of Thalera , T. thymiaria (Linnaeus)) and is, therefore, synonymized with Thalera (= Hethemia syn. nov.). Pistasciaria is transferred to Thalera as Thalera pistasciaria comb. nov. This synonymy is also supported by morphological characters: the venation ( Ferguson, 1969: pl. 5, fig. 5; Han & Xue, 2011a: fig. 63) of both genera is almost identical, except that M 3 and CuA 1 are stalked in Hethemia and sometimes CuA 1 also diverges from the lower angle of the cell in Thalera . In the male genitalia, the two genera possess similar uncus, socii, gnathos and aedeagus ( Ferguson, 1969: pl. 29, figs 1 and 2; reference to Han & Xue 2011a, related figures).