The genus Eupithecia Curtis is one of the most species-rich taxa of Lepidoptera, comprising more than 1,300 species worldwide (Scoble et al., 1999). Most members of the genus Eupithecia are small in size, and have a slender forewing with a projected apex, and indistinct basal, ante-, and postmedial transverse lines with a definite discal dot on the forewing; they are an unattractive grey or brown color, and can hardly be distinguished from each other by external features. Therefore, identification of many species of this genus, including the East Asian species, is extremely difficult (Mironov, 2003).

In Korea, a total of 52 species of Eupithecia have been recorded (Oh, 1992, 1993; Shin, 1996; Byun et al., 1998; Choi, 2003; Mironov et al., 2004; Choi and Kim, 2009). The purpose of the present study was to report on one additional species of Eupithecia from Korea. Therefore, a total of 53 species of Eupithecia are known in Korea.

Examination of adults, including male and female genitalia, followed that of Scoble (1992). Abbreviations are as follows: IZBE, Institute of Zoology and Botany, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia; ZISP, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia; ZMMU, Zoological Museum of Moscow University, Russia; GW, Province Gangwon-do.

Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758

Family Geometridae Stephens, 1829

Subfamily Larentiinae Duponchel, 1845

Genus Eupithecia Curtis, 1825

^1*Eupithecia praepupillata Wehrli, 1927 (Figs. 1, 2)

Eupithecia praepupillata Wehrli, 1927, in Wehrli and Bang-Haas 1927: 95, taf. 11, fig. 25. Syntype (s), ♀(coll. O. Bang-Haas), Russia: Ussuri (south), Sutschansk.

Korea: GW: 3♀, Yanggu Botanic Garden,Yanggu-gun, 21 Oct 2008, Kim SS; Russia: 1♂, S. Primorje, “Kedrovaja Pad” Nature Reserve, 8 Sep 1926, Kurentzov (ZISP); 1♂, Ussuri region, Sutchansky rudnik, 28 Sep (1)934, Palshkov (ZISP); 1♂, Primorsky kraj, Suputinsky Nature Reserve, at light, 14 Sep (19)66, Egerov (ZISP); 1♂, Prim (orsky) kraj, Sup (utinsky) Nature Reserve, spruce-pine forest, 14 Sep 1966, Kononov (IZBE); 4♂, 12♀, Primorje, “Kedrovaja Pad” Nature Reserve, 20 Sep-10 Oct 1966, Tzvetaev A (coll. Tzvetaev in ZMMU); 4♂, S. Primorje, Gornotaezhnoe, 20 km E of Ussurijsk, at light, 23 Sep 1995, Beljaev (ZISP).

This species may possibly belong to the proterva (originally “group B” in Inoue, 1979) or tenuiata group (Mironov, 1990, 2003). Externally, it is very similar to Eupi-

[Fig. 1.] Adults of Eupithecia praepupillata Wehrli 1927. A Male from the Far East of Russia (southern Primorje); B Female from Korea.

[Fig. 2.] Male and female genitalia of Eupithecia praepupillata Wehrli 1927. A Male genital capsule (Russia: S. Primorje); B Enlarged lateral view of the uncus; C Papillae on the anterior arms of labides enlarged; D Aedeagus; E F Male sternite A8; G Female genitalia (Russia: S. Primorje). Scale bar=1 mm.

thecia nagaii Inoue, 1963, with regard to its wing pattern elements (Inoue, 1979); however, it can be distinguished based on the following: more obtuse apex of the forewing, sharply angled antemedial transverse line, and unbroken wavy whitish subterminal line on the forewing, as well as larger, yellowish tornal spots on all wings. Male genitalia of E. praepupillata can be easily distinguished from those of all other representatives of the proterva group based on its much longer valva and very short and slim aedeagus. However, the shape of the male eighth sternite is similar to those of the tenuiata species group, especially to South-East Asian E. niveivena Prout, 1928. Female genitalia are somewhat similar to those of Chinese E. verprota Mironov and Galsworthy, 2006, but can be distinguished based on its smaller spines in the bursa copulatrix, a narrower base of the ductus seminalis, the membranous antrum, a more elongated eighth tergite, and longer and broader apophyses.

Wingspan 18.5-23.0 mm. Antennae filiform; frons broad, trapezoidal, mixed with dark brownish scales; labial palpi very long, almost three times of eye diameter, projected forward. Body and legs covered with whitish scales. Forewing ground colour greyish white, costa thinly covered with ochreous or yellowish scales; costal spot on the place of postmedial light transverse band large, yellow; medial area blackish, costally strongly tinged with black and projected outward, with a large blackish discal dot, one areole; subtermen pale blackish with a undulating whitish line; termen dark greyish with ochreous or yellowish large tornal spot. Hindwing ground colour paler, greyish white; pale blackish transverse lines present in basal, medial and subterminal areas; a small discal dot present but smaller and paler than on the forewing; tornal spot relatively large, yellowish.

Uncus narrow, elongated, biapical. Anal tube narrow and elongated, fusiform, densely covered with fine setae. Valva shaped like an orange segment,long and relatively narrow, with curved and almost parallel dorsal and ventral margins, evenly tapered to narrowly rounded apex; sacculus lightly sclerotized. Vinculum Vshaped, tapered anteriorly. Papillae on the anterior arms of labides narrow, elongated, covered with medium-sized setae at apices. Aedeagus slim, short and narrow, shorter than length of valve about two times. Vesica armed with one elongated and narrow longitudinally twisted plate-like cornutus, which has bifid anterior margin (one with pointed tip and other slightly broadened near apex). Sternite A8 two elongate, narrow, parallel arms, tapered and sometimes strongly sclerotized to apices, connected with each other by a short and narrow basal band; basal hollow broad and shallow; apical hollow membranous, broad and very deep.

Bursa copulatrix relatively small, ovoid, membranous, completely and densely covered with small spines. Ductus bursae short, spineless. Ductus seminalis narrow, slightly broadened at base, arising from anterior (basal) part of corpus bursae. Colliculum collar-like, narrow and elongated. Antrum short, membranous. Tergite A8 rectangular, elongated, with medial hollow in anterior margin and with membranous medial hollow and rows of dense setae in the posterior margin. Anterior and posterior apophyses long, relatively narrow, but expanded and flattened near apices; branches of anterior apophyses very long, narrow, slightly broadened at apices. Papillae anales large, broad and elongated, slightly tapered to apices, covered with elongated and medium-sized setae.

Korea, Russian Far East (southern Primorje).

This species is a univoltine species. Flying period of moths is from early September to late October. This species may possibly overwinter as an egg. Food plant is unknown.

Male genitalia of E. praepupillata were described for the first time by Viidalepp and Mironov (1988).

Korean name: 1*황색점무늬애기물결자나방 (신칭)