Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2026-05-21
Page range: 241-258
Abstract views: 40
PDF downloaded: 0

Taxonomic review of Lassaba Moore, 1888 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae) from India, with description of a new species

Zoological Survey of India; New Alipore; Kolkata–700053; West Bengal; India; Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences; Punjabi University; Patiala–147002; Punjab; India
Zoological Survey of India; New Alipore; Kolkata–700053; West Bengal; India
Zoological Survey of India; New Alipore; Kolkata–700053; West Bengal; India
Lepidoptera Boarmiini distribution Edward Osborne Wilson Identification key Northeast Himalaya taxonomy

Abstract

In the present paper, we review the taxonomy of the Indian species of Lassaba Moore, 1888 based on material housed in the National Zoological Collections of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata (NZCZSI). The study includes the description of one new species, Lassaba eowilsoni M. Singh & N. Singh, sp. nov., and the downgrading of Lassaba cervina (Warren, 1893), syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Lassaba contaminata contaminata Moore, 1888. Diagnostic accounts of six species, including one subspecies are provided along with illustrations of habitus and genitalia. Additionally, an identification key to the Indian species and an updated global checklist of 14 species and four subspecies, including their distributions and synonyms, are provided.

References

  1. Butler, A.G. (1881) Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Heterocerous Lepidoptera from Japan. The Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1881, 1–24 + 171–200 + 401–426 + 579–600. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1881.tb00882.x
  2. Hampson, G.F. (1895) Geometridae. In: The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Moths. Vol. III. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 138–519.
  3. Holloway, J.D. (1993 [1994]) The Moths of Borneo. Part 11. Family Geometridae, Subfamily Ennominae. Malayan Nature Journal, Southdene Sdn Bhd., 309 pp., 19 pls.
  4. Inoue, H. (1978) New and unrecorded species of the Geometridae from Taiwan with some synonymic notes (Lepidoptera). Bulletin of Faculty of Domestic Sciences of Otsuma Women’s University, 14, 203–254.
  5. Inoue, H. (1986) Further new and unrecorded species of the Geometridae from Taiwan with some synonymic notes (Lepidoptera). Bulletin of Faculty of Domestic Sciences, Otsuma Woman’s University, 22, 211–267.
  6. Jiang, N. (2013) Study on the systematics of Boarmiini from China (Lepidoptera: Geometroidea: Geometridae: Ennominae). Doctoral Dissertation, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 468 pp.
  7. Jiang, N., Li, X., Hausmann, A., Cheng, R., Xue, D. & Han, H. (2017) A molecular phylogeny of the Palaearctic and Oriental members of the tribe Boarmiini (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae). Invertebrate Systematics, 31 (4), 427–441. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS17005
  8. Kemal, M., Kizildag, S. & Koçak, A. (2019) On the Heterocera of Mt. Caragan (Philippines, Mindanao Is.) with some remarks (Lepidoptera). Miscellaneous Papers, 190, 1–51.
  9. Kirti, J.S., Chandra, K., Saxena, A. & Singh, N. (2019) Geometrid moths of India. Nature Books India, New Delhi, 296 pp.
  10. Klots, A.B. (1970) Lepidoptera. In: Tuxen, S.L. (Ed.), Taxonomist’s glossary of genitalia in insects. 2nd Edition. Munksgaard, Copenhagen, pp. 115–130.
  11. Lalnghahpuii, B. & Lalruatthara, L.E. (2023) Survey on Geometrid Moth Fauna of Hmuifang Community Forest Reserve, Aizawl, Mizoram. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 16, 19–29. https://doi.org/10.17485/IJST/v16sp1.msc3
  12. Leech, J.H. (1897) On Lepidoptera Heterocera from China, Japan and Corea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 6, 19 (112), 414–463. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939708680559
  13. Moore, F. (1867) On the lepidopterous Insects of Bengal. (Tribe Geometres et al.). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, Part 3, 612–686, pls. 32–33.
  14. Moore, F. (1888) Descriptions of Indian Lepidoptera Heterocera from the collection of the late Mr. W. S. Atkinson. In: Hewitson, W.C. & Moore, F. (Eds.), Asiatic Society of Bengal. Calcutta and Taylor & Francis, London, pp. 199–299, pls. 6–8.
  15. Parsons, M., Scoble, M.J., Honey, M.R., Pitkin, L.M. & Pitkin, B.R. (1999) Geometrid Moths of the World: A Catalogue (Lepidoptera, Geometridae). Vols. 1 & 2. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, 1016 pp. [Scoble, M.J. (Ed.)] https://doi.org/10.1071/9780643101050
  16. Prout, L.B. (1912) Lepidoptera Heterocera, Fam. Geometridae, subfam. Hemitheinae. In: Wytsman, P. (Ed.), Genera Insectorum, 129, 1–124, 5 pls.
  17. Prout, L.B. (1926) On a Collection of Moths of the Family Geometridae from Upper Burma made by Capt. A. E. Swann. Part III. Journal of Natural History Society, 31, 780–799.
  18. Prout, L.B. (1927) A list of the Geometridae (Lep. Het.) known to occur in the Island of Saõ Thomé, with descriptions of some new species collected by Mr. T.A. Barns. Transactions of the entomological Society of London, 75 (1), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1927.tb00071.x
  19. Prout, L.B. (1928) New Sumatran Geometridae in the Joicey Collection. Bulletin of the Hill Museum, 2, 45–62.
  20. Rajaei, H., Hausmann, A., Scoble, M., Wanke, D., Plotkin, D., Brehm, G., Murillo-Ramos, L. & Sihvonen, P. (2022) An online taxonomic facility of Geometridae (Lepidoptera), with an overview of global species richness and systematics. Integrative Systematics, 5 (2), 145–192. https://doi.org/10.18476/2022.577933
  21. Sato, R. (1986) One new species and five unrecorded species of the Ennommae (Geometridae) from Taiwan. The Japan Heterocerists’ Society, 135, 163–165.
  22. Sato, R. & Fu, C.M. (2010) Two new species of the Boarmiini (Geometridae, Ennominae) from Taiwan. Tinea, 21 (3), 122–128.
  23. Sato, R. (1993) Geometridae: Ennominae (part). In: Haruta, T. (Ed.), Moths of Nepal. Part 2. Tinea. Vol. 13. Supplement 3. The Japan Heterocerists’ Society, Tokyo, pp. 5–30.
  24. Sato, R. (1995) Geometridae: Ennominae (part). In: Haruta, T. (Ed.), Moths of Nepal. Part 2. Tinea. Vol. 14. Supplement 2. The Japan Heterocerists’ Society, Tokyo, pp. 28–37.
  25. Sato, R. (1998) Geometridae. In: Haruta, T. (Ed.), Moths of Nepal. Part V. Tinea. Vol. 15. Supplement 1. The Japan Heterocerists’ Society, Tokyo, pp. 19–31.
  26. Sato, R. (2020) Geometridae (Ennominae, Boarmiini) (part). In: Kishida, Y. (Ed.), Moths of Laos. Part 1. Tinea. Vol. 25. Supplement 2. Japan Heterocerists’ Society, Tokyo, pp. 60–86.
  27. Singh, N., Joshi, R., Kendrick, R.C., Pathania, P.C. & Banerjee, D. (2024) An illustrated guide to the Lepidoptera of India: taxonomic procedures, family characters, diversity and distribution. Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 308 pp.
  28. Stüning, D. (2000) Geometridae. In: Haruta, T. (Ed.), Moths of Nepal. Part 6. Tinea. Vol. 16. Supplement 1. The Japan Heterocerists’ Society, Tokyo, pp. 94–152.
  29. Swinhoe, C. (1900) Catalogue of Eastern and Australian Lepidoptera Heterocera. Part II. Henry Frowde M.A., the University of Oxford, London, Edinburgh and New York, 630 pp.
  30. Swinhoe, C. (1905) Notes on eastern Heterocera, with descriptions of new genera and species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 15 (89), 495–505. https://doi.org/10.1080/03745480509442839
  31. Walker, F. (1860) List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. British Museum, London, 21, 277–498.
  32. Walker, F. (1866) List of specimens of the lepidopterous insects of the Collection of the British Museum 35. Edward Newman, London, 506 pp.
  33. Warren, W. (1893) On new genera and species of moths of the family Geometridae from India, in the collection of H. J. Elwes. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 2, 341–434, pls. 30–32.
  34. Warren, W. (1896) New Geometridae in the Tring Museum. Novitates Zoologicae, 3, 99–148. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.5422
  35. Warren, W. (1897) New genera and species of moths from the Old-World regions in the Tring Museum. Novitates Zoologicae, 4, 12–130. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.21182
  36. Wehrli, E. (1941) Subfamilie: Geometrinae. In: Seitz, A. (Ed.), Die Grossschmetterlinge der Erde. Vol. 4. Supplement. Verlag A. Kernen, Stuttgart, pp. 254–766, taf. 19–53.
  37. Wu, S., Fu, C., Tzuoo, H., Shih, L., Chang, W. & Lin, H. (2020) An Annotated Checklist of Macro Moths in Mid– to High-Mountain Ranges of Taiwan (Lepidoptera: Macroheterocera). Formosan Entomologist, 40, 10–83.

How to Cite

Singh, M., Mallick, K. & Singh, N. (2026) Taxonomic review of Lassaba Moore, 1888 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae) from India, with description of a new species. Zootaxa, 5814 (2), 241–258. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5814.2.4