Aim  Andean forests are known to be a major diversity hotspot for vascular plants and vertebrates, but virtually nothing is known about the diversity of arthropods. We examined whether montane rain forests in southern Ecuador are also a diversity hotspot for arthropods, and chose geometrid moths as a model group. Location  The study area in southern Ecuador (Province Zamora‐Chinchipe, 79° W, 04° S) covers c. 40 km2, with 39 collecting sites within an elevational range of 1040–2677 m a.s.l. Thirty‐five of the sites were situated in an area c. 2.5 km2. Additional qualitative sampling was carried out in the same area and up to an elevation of 3100 m. Methods  Nocturnal moths were collected quantitatively and qualitatively using portable light towers consisting of two 15 W fluorescent tubes, and diurnal moths were collected qualitatively using an insect net. Insects were sampled in six fieldwork periods in the years 1999–2003. As diversity measures, Fisher's alpha of the log‐series distribution as well as eight estimators of total species richness were applied. Results  A total of 1266 species were recorded, 63% of which were identified to named species, whereas the remainder are likely to include many undescribed species. Quantitative samples at light towers collected 35,238 specimens representing 1223 species. The extrapolated species number for these data is 1420 (incidence coverage estimator). Twenty‐one additional nocturnal species and 22 exclusively diurnal species were sampled qualitatively at elevations between 1040 and 3100 m. The pooled value of Fisher's alpha for all quantitative samples is 246 ± 3. Main conclusions  The diversity of Geometridae documented here is much higher than anywhere else in the world, even without the inclusion of additional species from adjacent lowland rain forests. The number of recorded species in this small area corresponds to more than 6% of the known world fauna of geometrid moths. Our study emphasizes the importance of protecting the remaining montane Andean rain forests. For setting priorities in conservation, more studies on insect diversity are urgently required in other regions of the Andes, since montane forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate.

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The classification of the Neotropical genera of the Ennominae is reviewed and 267 genera are recognised to occur in this region. Three new genera are described and three others are reinstated, while 48 generic synonyms are newly established. Other changes established in this work include 14 species synonyms and 237 new or reinstated combinations. External features and genitalia of representative members of the genera are illustrated (753 figures). All the known Neotropical species and subspecies of Ennominae are listed (c. 3470), plus their synonyms. The tribes to which the genera belong are assessed, with c. 200 of the genera assigned to tribe or other suprageneric grouping. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 135, 121–401.

The classification of the Neotropical genera of the Geometrinae is reviewed and 38 genera are recognized (including one nomen dubium). Seven generic synonyms are newly established and the genus Gnathosocia is described as new. Other changes established in this work include 1 species synonym and 36 new or reinstated combinations. A key to genera, based on external features, is provided for their identification. External features and genitalia of representatives of each genus are illustrated. All the 506 known Neotropical species and subspecies of Geometrinae are catalogued and details of type material, examined extensively, are given.

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