Qinghai-tibetan-plateau
Guides
Gynaephora
Arctic woolly bear moths, grassland caterpillars (Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau species)
A genus of tussock moths (Lymantriinae: Erebidae) distributed across the Holarctic in alpine, Arctic, and Subarctic regions. Best known for exceptionally slow larval development, with some species requiring multiple years to complete their life cycle. Females are flightless or nearly so, while males are strong fliers that actively search for mates. The genus includes both Arctic species (e.g., G. groenlandica, G. rossii) and high-altitude Asian species (e.g., G. alpherakii, G. menyuanensis) that are significant pests of alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
Hypochilidae
Lampshade Spiders
Hypochilidae is an ancient and relict family of true spiders (Araneae) containing two genera: Hypochilus (11 species, North America) and Ectatosticta (22 species, Asia). The family originated in the Late Jurassic and exhibits a classic inter-continental disjunct distribution. These spiders are considered among the most primitive of araneomorphs, retaining plesiomorphic traits including two pairs of book lungs in most species. They are microhabitat specialists with naturally small geographic distributions and low vagility, making them important subjects for conservation and biogeographic research.