A new genus and species of Urodidae (Lepidoptera: Urodoidea) from Sri Lanka

Abstract

A new genus of Urodidae, Geoesthia gen. nov., is described from Sri Lanka, with the type species, Geoesthia ceylonica sp. nov. This is the second urodid genus from the Oriental Region. The new species is the only urodid recorded from Sri Lanka. The new genus is distinguished from all the known genera within Urodidae by a combination of four characteristics: the lack of scale tufts on the labial palpi; the absence of raised scales of two subbasal spots on the forewings; the presence of M-stem on the hindwings; and the female corpus bursae bearing five signa. Key to the genera and species of Urodidae from the Oriental Region is provided.