Illustrated checklist of Nolinae (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) of Hong Kong, China, with description of two new species

This paper provides a comprehensive check list of Nolinae species recorded in Hong Kong, China based on the collections of the second author, Dr. Roger Kendrick and the Natural History Museum, London. The checklist comprises 30 species.  Two of them are new to science and described here as new species (Spininola kendricki sp. n., and Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n.). Misidentification of the female paratype of Spininola nepali László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2014 is revealed and the true female of S. nepali is illustrated with its genitalia described here for the first time. The hitherto unknown female of S. armata László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 is also illustrated here for the first time. All species recorded from Hong Kong are illustrated together with their genitalia on 54 colour and 46 black and white diagnostic figures.


Introduction
This is the first taxonomic study of materials based primarily on the private collection of the second author of Hong Kong Lepidoptera. On Saturday 3 January 1998, the second author was asked to catch the next aeroplane from the UK to Hong Kong to deal with a problem, triggered by the Asian financial crisis, which was expected to take three days. Almost six years later, the second author returned to the UK. During that time, he started a collection of Hong Kong moths, gathering material largely in the company of Dr. Roger Kendrick, the current leading authority on the moths of Hong Kong. Since returning to the UK, the second author has made more or less annual trips back to Hong Kong resulting in a collection of Hong Kong moths currently comprising approximately two thousand species (including unidentified and/or undescribed taxa) of both Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera.
The identity of examples of each of the species of Nolinae in coll. M. Sterling, together with other specimens of Nolini from Hong Kong which have been deposited in the NHMUK, has been determined by the senior author. The Nolinae specimens in coll. M. Sterling examined by the senior author for the purposes of this paper (including but not limited to the type material) have been deposited with the NHMUK. The

Material and methods
The specimens examined for the purposes of this paper were collected from a substantial number of sites, although there is a bias towards the area around the city of Tai Po in the New Territories area of Hong Kong. Almost half the examined specimens, however, were recorded from Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. This is an area of about 150 hectares commencing in the Lam Kam Valley at around 150 metres elevation and rising to the summit of Kwun Yum Shan at around 550 metres elevation containing, since the 1950's, an agricultural institute founded by the Kadoorie Brothers, then owners of the pre-eminent local power company in Hong Kong. The Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden complex now consists of a relatively undisturbed mosaic of lowland woodland, low hill forest and more managed areas.
Other sites from which the examined specimens were collected include the mangrove/reedbed complex at Mai Po, edge of village sites with adjacent secondary and/or feng shui woodland such as Ping Long and Tai Yeung Che, both in the Lam Kam Valley, low hill forest such at the Peak (Hong Kong Island) and Tai Mo Shan (New Territories), coastal woodland sites such as Redhill and Tai Tam (Hong Kong Island) and various sites on the Sai Kung peninsula (New Territories) and mixed woodland sites such as Nam Chung (New Territories).
Almost all the specimens examined were collected from Robinson traps using 125w mercury vapour bulbs, left out all night on the roof of Dr. Kendrick's apartment and examined periodically throughout the night and emptied before dawn in the case of records from Ping Long and Tai Yeung Che, and run in the field using either plug ins or portable electricity generators in all other cases.  831, alt. 200m, 125W mv, 17.10.2010, leg. M.J. Sterling, slide No.: LGN 2874 (coll. M. Sterling); 1 male, The Peak, vi-vii.1992, A. Galsworthy, B.M. 1992. Further Hong Kong specimens not dissected for the purposes of this paper are contained in coll. M. Sterling. László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 (Figs 29, 30, 60, 83) Nola mediolineata László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010, Esperiana 15: 59, pl. 9, fig. 21 In the description of the species, four male specimens from the type locality, one male from Bhutan and one male and one female from Vietnam were listed as paratypes ). The external appearance as well as the genitalia of the holotype (Figs 37, 66) and male paratypes is fairly uniform, whereas the single female paratype from Vietnam ( Fig. 40) noticeably differs in several external characters from the males, namely by its more greyish forewing and somewhat longer, elongate quadrangular, dark brownish medio-costal patch, whereas the male specimens of S. nepali have pale greyish-brown forewing ground colour and a shorter, conspicuously rounded, blackish patch at the medial section of forewing costa. At the time of the description of the species, these external differences between the male and female specimens was considered a manifestation of moderate sexual dimorphism.

Nola mediolineata
Nearly a decade ago, in the course of the revision of the Oriental Nolinae, a female specimen externally identical with the exemplars from India-Khasis referred to below was located by the senior author in the collection of the ZFMK collected in "Shaowu-Fukien" [Fujian] by J. Klapperich in 1937. The genitalia of this specimen display the same characters as those of the female from Khasis (see below). As the single Fujian specimen came from a locality which is remote from the then known distribution area of S. nepali and its genitalia were different from the genitalia of the described paratype, the specimen from Fujian has remained unidentified with the presumption that it may belong to the genus Sumatranola László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2013 due to the similarities in their genitalia morphology (László et al. 2013).
In the course of a recent examination of the Nolini accessions of the NHMUK, a pair of Spininola exemplars, both male and female definitely reminiscent of S. nepali, collected in India-Khasis, were found by the senior author (Figs 38,39). The dissection of the genitalia of the male specimen ( Fig. 67) confirmed its identity as S. nepali. However, the genitalia of the female specimen (Fig. 89) turned out to be fundamentally different from that of the female paratype of S. nepali (Fig. 90).
In the course of the study of Hong Kong Nolinae, further female specimens displaying S. nepali characteristics were found in the Hong Kong material by the second author (Fig. 36). The dissection of the genitalia of these specimens (Fig. 88) revealed their conspecifity with the Khasis and Fukien specimens. Finally, by the courtesy of Dr. Roger Kendrick, the senior author has been given the opportunity to dissect a male S. nepali-like specimen from Hong Kong (Fig. 35) and compare it with the type series of S. nepali. The configuration of the male genitalia of the Hong Kong specimen (Fig. 65) turned out to be substantively identical with those of the holotype of S. nepali (Fig. 66).
On this basis the following conclusions can be drawn: (i) as the externally well matching male and female specimens were collected in the same vicinity both in Khasis and in Hong Kong, they almost certainly belong to the same species; (ii) the male specimens from Hong Kong and India-Khasis are all S. nepali ; (iii) it can therefore be presumed that the female specimens from Hong Kong and India-Khasis, together with the Fujian specimen, are also S. nepali; (iv) S. nepali is therefore a widely distributed species whose range extends from East Nepal to (at least) Fujian; and (v) as the true female of S. nepali differs substantially from the female paratype of the taxon, the latter specimen was misidentified and was erroneously designated as paratype of S. nepali in the description of the species . The true female genitalia of S. nepali is described and illustrated here for the first time. The misidentified female paratype of S. nepali from Vietnam is likely to represent an undescribed species. (Figs 88, 89). Ovipositor relatively short, conical, papillae anales trapezoidal, apophyses posteriores medium long, thin, apically rounded, apophyses anteriores conspicuously robust, medium long, very broad at base, gradually tapering, slightly curved, apically pointed; 8 th tergite very short, medially slightly constricted, ribbon-like; ostium bursae relatively wide, rectangular, with a short but conspicuous apically rounded triangular medio-distal lobe; antrum short, funnel-like; distal section of ductus bursae heavily sclerotized, slightly arched, proximally tapering; proximal section of ductus bursae membranous, gradually dilated proximally; cervix bursae unmodified, membranous; distal section of corpus bursae tubular, gradually dilating proximally, proximal section of corpus bursae globular, distal half membranous, proximal half finely scobinated; signum bursae consisted of a pair of heavily sclerotized, small, thorn-like processi; appendix bursae present, globular, weakly membranous.   Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to S. armata László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 (Figs 43, 44, 69, 92) described from North Thailand (László et al. 2010), but is distinguished by its considerably paler, rather greyish brown colour of wings and the less sharply defined elements of forewing pattern, whereas the wings of S. armata are markedly darker brownish grey, conspicuously darkened towards the distal margins, with scattered blackish streaks and dots on veins; in addition, the forewing of S. kendricki is somewhat narrower than that of S. armata. The differences between the genitalia of the new species and its congener are as follows: S. kendricki sp. n. has somewhat longer and basally broader uncus, slightly shorter valvae, where the cucullus of dorsal lobe less elongate and the ventral lobe somewhat broader compared than those characters of S. armata; in addition, the medially angled harpe is noticeably thicker in the new species than in S. armata. The aedeagus of S. kendricki has apically conspicuously dilated, somewhat T-shaped coecum penis, whereas that of S. armata is unmodified, simply rounded; in addition, the vesica of the new species is without scobination, while that of its congener bears a conspicuous, extensive, elongate scobinated plate (cf Figs 68, 69). In the female genitalia, the differences between the two species are as follows: the new species has markedly longer papillae anales, somewhat longer and thinner apophyses posteriores, considerably wider ostium bursae, much shorter, funnel-like antrum with straight distal margin (that of S. armata is rather cupshaped with evenly arcuate, concave distal margin), somewhat shorter sclerotized distal section of ductus bursae, notably longer and thinner ductus bursae compared to those of S. armata; in addition, the pair of thorn-like signum bursae are of different size in the new species, the distal one being much smaller than the proximal one, whereas the two signa bursae of S. armata are equal in size (see Figs 91, 92). The female adult and genitalia of S. armata are illustrated here for the first time.

Description of the female genitalia
It is worth noting that S. kendricki also resembles S. subvesiculalis Hu, Wang & Han, 2012 described from the Donglashan Mountains, Sichuan, China due to its similarly greyish brown forewing ground colour and the characteristically narrow, dark brownish, short quadrangular dash in the medial section of forewing costa (Hu et al. 2012), but differs in the following features: the head, tegulae, collar and thorax of S. kendricki are covered by uniform greyish brown hair scales, whereas those of S. subvesiculalis are diffused with white scales; in addition the hindwing of the new species is somewhat darker than that of its congener. In the male genitalia, the new species has a somewhat shorter and considerably broader, apically rounded, triangular uncus, while that of S. subvesiculalis is longer, narrower, apically pointed and rather spike-like; the dorsal lobes of the bilobate valva are much narrower, the ventral lobes are markedly broader in the new species than in S. subvesiculalis; in addition, S. kendricki has notably shorter harpe compared to that of its congener. The simple, short and relatively narrow, tubular aedeagus of the new species is similar to that of S. subvesiculalis, but it has somewhat longer, apically conspicuously dilated, T-shaped coecum penis, whereas that of S. subvesiculalis is apically rounded, without dilation.

Description.
Adult. (Figs 41, 42). Forewing length of male 8 mm, that of female 7.5 mm. Antenna of male bipectinate with relatively short rami, that of female filiform. Sexual dimorphism limited, expressed by the somewhat wider and shorter forewing and slightly darker hindwing of female compared to those of male. Head relatively large, labial palps shortish, porrect, three segmented; basal segment short with a small whitish ochreous scale tuft, second segment almost twice as long as third, covered with a thick tuft of scales which substantially broadens medially, ochreous grey, third segment short, fairly broad, fairly thickly covered in ochreous grey scales; frons and vertex pale grey; compound eyes moderately large, globular. Thorax pale grey, abdomen brownish grey. Forewing rather broad, triangular, apically rounded. Forewing ground colour pale greyish brown, with somewhat reddish brown tone in the terminal area. Subbasal and basal transverse lines deleted, basal area with a short, fine, sharply defined, blackish subcostal streak; antemedial line poorly visible, diffuse, interrupted, represented by scarce, small patches consisting of dark brown scales, medial line deleted. Orbicular stigma rather large, rounded, consisting of dark brown raised scales. Postmedial line poorly visible, diffuse, interrupted, represented by short dark brown dashes; subterminal line diffuse, shadow like, interrupted, consisting of reddish brown patches of different size; terminal line very narrow, off white; cilia greyish brown. Hindwing pale greyish brown; cell spot elongate, greyish; cilia somewhat darker.

Etymology.
The new species is named after Dr. Roger Kendrick, renowned entomologist and specialist in South East Asian Lepidoptera, who has spent much of the last 20 years compiling material for his comprehensive and shortly to be published Illustrated Guide to the Moths of Hong Kong.  , 22º24'5.7"N, 114º16'6.2"E, 125W Robinson, 19.5.2016, leg. M.J. Sterling;1 male, Kadoorie BG, New Territory, 1100ft, MV, 7.10.2001.
Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n. (Figs 3, 73 Diagnosis. Hampsonola ceciliae sp. n. is reminiscent of H. sapatagka  due to the similarly pale yellowish forewing with blurred, shadow-like transverse lines, but considerably smaller in size (wingspan of the new species is 10 mm, that of H. sapatagka is 14-15 mm) and its forewing ground colour has a somewhat greenish grey tone unlike the somewhat reddish shade of the forewing of H. sapatagka. In the male genitalia, the new species has markedly shorter uncus, much wider dorsal lobe (cucullus) and considerably shorter and narrower ventral lobe of valva, somewhat more robust and thicker, apically pointed harpe (that of H. sapatagka is apically rounded), considerably longer vinculum compared to those of H. sapatagka. In addition, H. ceciliae has straight, subapically laced aedeagus, while that of H. sapatagka is evenly arcuate and gradually tapered apically. Due to the configuration of the male genitalia, namely the similarly reduced uncus, H. ceciliae shows closer relationship to H. donglashanensis (Hu, Han, László, Ronkay & Wang, 2014) but distinguished by its somewhat longer tegumen, much smaller ventral lobe of valva, considerably thicker, more robust harpe and markedly longer vinculum compared to those of H. donglashanensis. In addition, the aedeagus of the new species is straight, subapically laced, while that of its congener is evenly curved, apically suddenly narrowed (Hu et al. 2014). Despite the similarities in their genitalia, the external appearance of H. ceciliae and H. donglashanensis are somewhat dissimilar as the latter species is larger in size (with wingspan of 15 mm, that of H. ceciliae is 10 mm only) having white forewing with brownish median area while the forewing of the new species is pale yellowish with some greyish green shade, without darker median area.

Description.
Adult. (Fig. 3). Very small moth, forewing length of holotype 5 mm. Antenna of male bipectinate. Head relatively large, labial palps very small, three segmented, somewhat downward pointing, basal segment very short, second segment more than twice length of third with a thick quadrangular tuft of pale ochreous scales, third segment short and reasonably broad with pale ochreous scaling; frons and vertex pale brownish grey; compound eyes moderately large, globular. Thorax brownish grey, abdomen creamy white. Forewing rather narrow, triangular, apically rounded. Forewing ground colour pale yellowish grey, with somewhat greenish tone. Subbasal, basal, antemedial and medial transverse lines diffuse, shadow-like, represented by patches of pale greenish grey scales, medial line conspicuously broad. Orbicular stigma small and indistinct, somewhat rectangular in shape with a small number of slightly raised dark brown scales. Postmedial line markedly fine, relatively sharply defined by dark greenish grey scales, costal section gently arcuate, medial section angled towards termen, ventral section slightly s-curved. Subterminal line rather broad, diffuse, interrupted, shadow-like, consisted of pale greenish grey patches of different size; terminal line deleted; terminal area somewhat paler than other parts of the forewing; cilia pale greyish yellow. Hindwing pale yellowish white slightly brownish at the outer margin; cell spot absent; cilia yellowish white suffused by some greyish hair scales.
Female unknown.
Etymology. The new species is named after Cecily Kendrick, the wife of Dr. Roger Kendrick, who is an accomplished Hong Kong botanist and is writing the Chinese text of the Illustrated Guide to the Moths of Hong Kong.
Ronkay and Mr Gábor Ronkay for their long-term collaboration in the course of the revision of the Asian Nolinae without which identification of Hong Kong Nolinae would not have been possible. The Authors declare that to the best of their knowledge they conform to the national regulations and meet with the conditions and requirements of International Conventions concerning collecting/export and handling of the specimens reviewed in this Article.