Review of the genus Hypocala Guenée (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Hypocalinae) from Chinese fauna

The genus Hypocala Guenée, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Hypocalinae) was previously treated in the Fauna Sinica volume on Noctuidae, which recognised four species, based on external morphology from China: H. subsatura Guenée, 1852, H. deflorata (Fabricius, 1794) H. rostrata (Fabricius, 1794) and H. violacea Butler, 1879. A fifth species, H. andamana Wileman, 1923 is known from Taiwan, based on literature records, but was not available for examination in this study. In the present study, based on examination of available museum material, we provide updated diagnoses, descriptions and illustrations of adults and male genitalia for all four species, as well as female genitalia for two species where material was available. A taxonomic key to the Chinese species, updated synonymies and host plant records are also provided. This study establishes a comprehensive baseline for future taxonomic and pest-management research on Hypocala in China.