IX. Penicillifera Dierl, 1978 (FIGURES 14–15)

Penicillifera Dierl, 1978, Spixiana 1 (3): 249. Type species: Dasychira apicalis Walker, 1862, by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Characterized based on the following features: wings gray-white or ochre with numerous small black spots; apex of forewing blunt; inner margin of hindwing straight with 3–4 black spots; uncus bifid and broadly finger-shaped; gnathos reduced; saccus well-developed; aedeagus slender; posterior margin of 8th sternite with a number of short lateral and medial processes; 8th tergite “Y” shaped and covered with long hairs.

Distribution. Oriental Region including the Sino-Himalayan area.

Remarks. Roepke (1924) described the larvae of the type species, which are similar in appearance to those of Ocinara . The younger instars are yellowish gray-brown, whereas the fifth instar is milky-white and gray.Three Penicillifera species are here recorded from China (Map 9).

Map 9. Distribution of Penicillifera spp. mainly in China.