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Issue: Vol. 5831 No. 4: 17 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-17
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5831.4.7
Page range: 567-580
Abstract views: 113
PDF downloaded: 8

A new species of the family Saturniidae from Hainan Island (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Dongjing Street; Yuhua District; Changsha City 410116; Hunan Province; China
Lepidoptera Cricula life history COI barcode phylogeny taxonomy biogeography

Abstract

In March 2025, unknown Saturniidae larvae were found on Jianfengling Mountain, western Hainan Island, and reared to adulthood, revealing a complete life history. Morphological comparisons and COI barcode‑based phylogenetic analyses supported the new taxon as an independent lineage. The new species is characterized by unique male genitalia (vesica with a deeply embedded, never fully everted cornutus), and distinctive larval characters (semi‑fused dorsal scoli on A8, extensive black coloration). Herein described as Cricula qiongya sp. nov., it is currently known only from a restricted area on Jianfengling Mountain.

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How to Cite

He, Q.-L. (2026) A new species of the family Saturniidae from Hainan Island (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Zootaxa, 5831 (4), 567–580. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5831.4.7