Micraglossa Warren, 1891 is investigated from China, where this genus approaches its northernmost occurrence. Specimens were available from 48 Chinese localities, and additional material from nearby countries has been investigated in order to analyse the distribution of the species. Altogether, 620 individuals (351PP, 269OO) were investigated. As a result, ten species of Micraglossa are now recorded from China. Four of them are described as new from China: M. michaelshafferi sp.n. (also from Thailand), M. zhongguoensis sp.n. (also from Vietnam), M. nana sp.n. (also from Vietnam) and M. beia sp.n. Two species, M. fl avidalis Hampson, 1907 and M. beia sp.n. are known only from China. Three species originally described from India and one species originally described from Japan are now recorded for the fi rst time from other countries: M. straminealis (Hampson, 1903) from China and Nepal, M. aureata Inoue, 1982 from China, M. oenealis Hampson, 1897 from Nepal and M. scoparialis Warren, 1891 from Pakistan, Nepal and Vietnam, the latter two were previously recorded from China. M. manoi Sasaki, 1998, originally described from Taiwan, is now recorded for the fi rst time from continental China as well as from Nepal. All species are described in detail and keys for their identifi cation are provided, separately for males and females. Wing pattern and male and female genitalia are illustrated for all species. Lectotypes are designated for M. straminealis and M. oenealis. Mapping the Chinese records of Micraglossa against climate data illustrates that frost below a mean minimum temperature of the coldest month (January) of -10°C is not tolerated. Therefore, the northern limit of distribution of this taxon is marked by the -10°C isotherm. We discuss the link between Micraglossa and the laurel and oreotropic forests in Asia, and to a larval feeding habit in cushions of mosses and liverworts. Further local research is necessary to identify biotic and abiotic requirements for the occurrence of Micraglossa species more precisely.

Lepidoptera, Scopariinae, new species, China, biogeography