Review of the genus Yponomeuta Latreille, 1796 (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in China

Keywords: Microlepidoptera, Yponomeutoidea, taxonomy, new species, new record

Abstract

Thirty-four species of the genus Yponomeuta Latreille, 1796 from China are reviewed, with diagnostic characters given to each species. Five species among them are described as new to science, including Y. changbaishana Li sp. nov., Y. furvimaculata Li sp. nov., Y. heterochroma Li sp. nov., Y. quinquepunctata Li sp. nov. and Y. similicinefacta Li sp. nov. Nine species are newly recorded for the Chinese fauna. The female of Y. osakae Moriuti, 1977 is described for the first time. Images of adults and illustrations of available genitalia of all the species treated in this article are provided. A list of the related genus Teinoptila Sauber, 1902 is given, including eleven newly proposed combinations and two revised combinations.

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Published
2026-03-23
How to Cite
Liu, H., & Li, H. (2026). Review of the genus Yponomeuta Latreille, 1796 (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in China. European Journal of Taxonomy, 1047(1), 1–63. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2026.1047.3227
Section
Monograph