Three new Chinese species of Palpifer Hampson from the collection of Franz Daniel (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)

Abstract

New Chinese Palpifer species are described from Yunnan and Fujian provinces. The male of Palpifer nielseni sp. n. is described from specimens housed at the Witt Museum Weiden and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, while a male of P. chui sp. n. and a male and female of Palpifer climoi sp. n., are described from specimens in the latter collection only. Specimens were originally part of the Franz Daniel collection, collected in 1934–1935 from elevations of 2,300 and 3,000 m. The new species are diagnosed primarily by differences in the male genitalia. The female genitalia of P. climoi sp. n. represent the second published description for Palpifer. Four unique features of the forewing supporting monophyly of Palpifer are discussed.