Diathera Choi, 1999

CHOI, SEI-WOONG, 2000, A Cladistic Analysis of the Therini: A New Synonym of the Cidariini (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Larentiinae), American Museum Novitates 3295, pp. 1-26 : 22-23

Diathera Choi, 1999

TYPE SPECIES: Diathera fluctuata Choi, 1999 .

DIAGNOSIS: Members of Diathera have male antennae filiform; long uncus; juxta with short, strongly sclerotized hairs; costa of valva with minute dentate processes basally, greatly expanded medially; vesica without a cornutus; female eighth sternite scobinate; ductus bursae short, sclerotized, and the corpus bursae slender with scalloped processes on the wall.

DISCUSSION: The three species of Diathera , all from southwestern China, are united by five synapomorphies: male antenna filiform (character #0-0), juxta with strongly sclero- tized hairs (#16-1), medially invaginated saccus (#23-1), valva wider distally (#31-0), and female seventh sternite scobinate (#36-2).

The species of this genus are similar to Pennithera externally, especially in the strongly scalloped ante and postmedial lines of the forewing. However, the structure of the male antennae and the male and female genitalia separate Diathera from Pennithera .